Jurgen Klopp praised the efforts of his Liverpool team as they fell just short in the Champions League final against Real Madrid despite dominating for large periods in Paris.
The Anfield club who also finished second in the Premier League, one point off champions Manchester City, went down to Vinicius Junior’s goal just before the hour. It was Real Madrid’s only attempt on target.
“We had more shots on target but the most decisive stat is on Madrid’s side,” Klopp explained in the post-match press conference. “They scored a goal and we didn’t. That’s the easiest explanation in the world of football. Hard and harsh.
“When the goalkeeper (Thibaut Corutois) is man of the match then something has gone wrong for the other team. We could have played better football and they could have but they didn’t. The stats are 50-50 but, apart from the goal, they did not have a shot on target.
“We saw we did a lot of good things but it was not enough.”
Klopp’s team were two results away from completing a historic quadruple, however the 2019 Champions League winners end the season with both domestic cups but no more Premier League or Champions League glory.
“Madrid had one shot on target and it was a goal,” explained Klopp, after a third final appearance in five years for his Liverpool team. “We played a good game but when you lose 1-0 it was not good enough. I told the boys in the changing room I feel the pride already.
“These boys played an outstanding season and the two competitions we couldn’t win we didn’t win for the smallest possible margin.
“The boys will realise how special it was what they did (this season). It’s obviously a different kind of success, not the success you want to have, but I have the strong feeling we come again.
“The boys are really competitive, we have an outstanding group together, we will again have an outstanding group together and then we go again.
“Obviously we have to try a bit more often than others, but no problem. Where is it next year? Istanbul. Book the hotel!”
