|
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told France Football he has never wanted to manage the "best team" but is far more interested in "beating the best." Last week, Klopp said his side would have to be Rocky Balboa when competing with Premier League champions Manchester City -- who he compared to Ivan Drago from "Rocky IV" -- for the Premier League title this season. The Liverpool boss said he had been the underdog throughout his football career but has Pep Guardiola's City in his sights. "If a team is better than yours, sort yourself out to get up to their standard and beat them," he said. "I have never wanted to have the best team. I have never been part of that myself, as a player or manager. "What I'm interested in is beating the best. The best team today in England is Manchester City -- that means all the others aren't the best. The aim is to beat City as often as possible." Klopp said Liverpool were "in a league that brings together six of the world's biggest clubs, who are all fighting for four Champions League places," which made his task "very difficult." "Apart from Manchester City, who were way ahead early on, it was a huge relief for all the others to qualify," he added. "Liverpool's history is made up of battles. And when you battle, you never expect it to be easy. Why would it be now? Yes, we're aiming for the stars, but we respect the game." Liverpool are still searching for their first trophy under Klopp after losing in a League Cup, Europa League and Champions League final. Klopp is in his fourth season as manager, having taken charge in October 2015 after leaving Borussia Dortmund, and believes Anfield is the perfect stage for him to deliver success. "I feel the size of the club and above all the honour given to me to lead the team," he said. "Last year, I turned 50 and I invited quite a lot of people to celebrate. I hadn't seen some of them for 20 years. The words that I heard most were: 'Who would have thought it? That you would, one day, be manager of Liverpool?' "It's true that when you're born in the Black Forest and you have played in Germany's seventh division, it seems improbable. "I didn't even dream of being a professional or having a career in football ... so for me, I'm at the club that suits me to achieve every goal."
|
