Clapping for Klopp

                                                                                         

By Vusmann

Liverpool's fairytale season is hugely credited to their eccentric gaffer, Jurgen Klopp. The Reds are one match away of conquering Europe once more, a feat they last achieved 13 years ago. 

For the past three seasons, I have been worried by Klopp's negligence on his team's state of defense. Klopp's Liverpool has been known for scoring and letting in goals virtually at the same rate. With that approach it became impossible for them to challenge for top honours because forwards wins you games and defenses wins you titles. 

The acquisition of Dutch stalwart Virgil van Dijk on its own sent a firm message to the Kop faithfuls and its  competitors alike. I knew Liverpool will challenge for the league next season if they of course add one or two defenders and a sweeper-like goalkeeper who will fit well and quickly adjust to the high line they employ. It showed that he had identified his weakest link and was prepared to get the best of the best to solve that problem. He had earlier on promoted  a very talented wing-back that has loads of potential in Trent Alexander-Arnold. Joel Matip's arrival also added more options at central defense whilst Andrew Robertson's signing proves to be a huge bargain. 

His ability of buying average players and turning them into world stars is second to none. 

He also brought in  Sadio Mane,  Georginio Wijnaldum,  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dominic Solanke and arguable the league's buy of the season in  Mohammed Salah;  to shape a team that would play his own way and take world football by storm.  He has added Naby Keita to his irrepressible midfield.

At Dortmund he also made some magnificent signings that went on to become one of the greatest players in history whilst he took the bull (Bayern Munich) by its horns and shoved it aside in winning successive Bundesliga titles though he fell by the slightest of margins to the same team on continental showcase. 

As unknowns, he brought on:  Henrikh Mkhitaryan,  Marco Reus,  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,  Shinji Kagawa,  Nuri Sahin,  Ilkay Gündogan,  Ivan Perisic,  Robert Lewandowski and  Neven Subotic. 

On Saturday, he faces an uphill task, a Real Madrid team that has mastered the way of winning in Europe. But Liverpool do have that mental strength to face and overpower any team in Europe, the team has been there and done it before though with different players. In psychological strength the teams are at par but Madrid goes to Kiev under more pressure and and that could work against them.

The champions league current form may give the Reds the edge on this regard as Liverpool has been winning convincingly whilst Madrid has been grinding out results unimpressively.

Marching to this final, Madrid were odd in that they often won away and drew and or lost at home whilst Liverpool won by scoring loads of goals and home but weren't that clinical away. Madrid has the advantage on this one. Liverpool tends to score a lot of goals in the first half whilst they also concede a lot in the second half. This balances the equation but Klopp's high tempo and high pressing game may be tiring his players and be the reason why his team lets in loads of goals in the second half. If it continues unattended to, Madrid might capitalise on it.

When it comes to the coaches its a very tight contest. Zidane, has more European experience as a player and as a coach than Klopp but he is under more pressure than Klopp to win this most prestigious trophy in club football. A lose in Madrid won't be welcome like in Liverpool after Barcelona has already won the domestic double; heads might roll at the Bernabeu. 

Madrid is most likely to start cautiously based on Liverpool's record of scoring early and attacking with pace and numbers. Off the ball, Madrid is most likely to overload their last third in a bid to block those channels Mane and Salah usually exploit to meet passes from mainly Firmino and Milner. However, Marcelo is expected to marshall the left flank with aplomb with Casemiro slotting in central defense in case Ramos or Varane goes wide to cover for an overlapped Marcelo or Carvajal. If Liverpoool can pin Marcelo down they have they their work cut down because his crosses are deadly dangerous for a 12 area specialist like Cristiano Ronaldo. Surely both defenses needs to be a their best because one lapse of concentration might spell disaster for them. 

The injury to the energetic Chamberlain will be huge blow to Klopp whilst the return of Can isn't a blessing either as the Germany midfielder is not likely to play based on his supposed move the Old Lady. Zidane has a full squad to choose from and it will be interesting to see whether he sticks to the impressive Lucas Vasquez, the popular BBC or the vastly talented Isco. His back four and the midfield trio isn't expected to be changed  same like Liverpool's starting 11. 

Whatever happens on Saturday, Klopp has earned the respect of Liverpool die-hards and the fraternity as a whole. He has done tremendously well for football and deserves this reward more than anyone else.