Klopp sheds light on inspirational half-time talk
Jurgen Klopp opened up on the half-time team talk that helped Liverpool fend off a Villarreal comeback to reach the Champions League final.
The Reds had arrived in Spain holding a 2-0 aggregate lead thanks to a dominant showing at Anfield but contrived to squander it during a chastening first half at El Madrigal.
However, a much-improved second-half showing punctuated by goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane helped secure passage to a third Champions League final appearance in just five seasons.
And, when asked how he had masterminded that change of fortunes, Klopp said: "It feels like the first in 20 [years], it's outstanding, because we made it obviously pretty tricky for ourselves.
"We knew before that these kinds of things can happen; it's all about in life all the time how you react when things don't go your way.
"Getting the first goal after two-and-a-half, three minutes, that's obviously not what you wanted, momentum on their side.
"After the first half I told the boys, 'Yes, they have momentum but they don't own it! In one situation we can get it back.'
"We were calm because I accept it 100 per cent that if Villarreal plays the second half like they play the first and we played the second half like the first then they will be in the final.
"The perception was like this, everything looked more like they will score the 3-0 than we will score the 2-1 but we are still here so we could give it a try and that's what we did."
The German went on to reveal that his half-time rallying cry also featured elements of important tactical advice to his players.
He said: "The problem with the half-time was that we knew what was wrong because it was obvious, but we didn't have the situations to show where we did it right.
"Respect to Villarreal, I have to say; stadium, team, coach, it's unbelievable what they set up, they put us under pressure.
"[It was] man-v-man all over the whole pitch, we didn't play football at all, we didn't get momentum back.
"We have to play in the right spaces, we have to force ourselves in the game to start playing football.
"[When] we broke the lines and we found Naby or Trent in the half-spaces and the front three were more flexible and not fixed in their positions, all of a sudden we were in the game, scored goals and made it happen.
Liverpool's final opponent will be confirmed on Thursday (AEST) when Real Madrid and Manchester City do battle in the second leg of their semi-final tie.
Of his side's prospective opponents, Klopp said: "Yes, I will watch it! Whoever it will be, it will be massive.
"Whoever wins tomorrow night will deserve the result and then we'll face each other in Paris."
