Champions League: ‘They Don’t Play Proper Soccer,’ Jurgen Klopp Reacts To Atletico Eliminating Holders Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp said it “doesn’t feel right,” while he also criticized La Liga’s way of football after Atletico Madrid knocked the defending champions Liverpool FC out of UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Atletico, who had a 1-0 lead from the first leg, defeated The Reds 3-2 at Anfield in the return leg and on a 4-2 aggregate, the Spanish side progressed to the last eight of the tournament.

Liverpool, who had reached the final the last two seasons, were 2-0 up after 95 minutes. The goal-scorers for the hosts were Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino, who interestingly had scored his very first goal at Anfield this season. However, three minutes later Liverpool goalkeeper Adrián’s blunder handed Atletico a precious away goal, which was netted by Marcos Llorente.

The 25-year-old midfielder, nine minutes later, ensured whatever hopes Liverpool had shattered by pushing the ball through Adrian again. On the last kick of the game, Atletico’s star forward Álvaro Morata scored Atletico’s third of the night to seal a memorable victory at Anfield.

The Spanish side became the first team in as many as 43 games to defeat Liverpool in their backyard across competitions. While it was Liverpool’s first European defeat at Anfield since 2014, it was also their first defeat in a two-legged European tie since Klopp took over in 2015.

Even though the German manager accepted the defeat graciously, he did not hesitate to criticize the opponents. He said Diego Simeone's Atletico do not play “proper soccer.”

“I am completely happy with the performance. It's so difficult to play a side like this. I’m searching for the right words. I don't understand the quality they have the football they play. They could play proper soccer but they stand deep and have counter-attacks. We accept it, of course, but it doesn't feel right tonight. I realize I am a really bad loser, especially when the boys put such an effort in against world-class players on the other side who defend with two rows of four,” Klopp told BT Sport.

“We know in the past two years we had some lucky moments in the Champions League - you have to reach two finals - but today everything was against us in the decisive moments,” Liverpool’s manager added further.