DOHA (Qatar): Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismissed suggestions that they are the favourites as they take on Mexico’s Monterrey in the semifinal at the Khalifa International Stadium here on Wednesday.
The European champions are bubbling confidence given their excellent run in the Premier League back home, and are hoping to win their FIFA Club World Cup.
“We don’t see ourselves as favourites or whatever. We see ourselves as the challengers,” said Klopp at a press conference here on Tuesday.
The Reds have never won this competition, which the German felt is an important one.
“It would be the first time for the club to win the Club World Cup. Is it the most important cup competition in the world? I don’t know. There are winners from all different competitions and continents.
“In Europe, obviously everybody thinks the Champions League is the biggest competition, but ask the guys who play in the CONCACAF, ask the other players in Asia or wherever, ask them. They all have their competitions. We are here to represent Liverpool and Europe, that’s what we do. We try that in the best way – like we do always. Hopefully you can see that tomorrow night,” added Klopp.
Asked if Liverpool is the best football side in the world right now, the 52-year-old said, “Look, it is not important. Nobody cares about what happened three days ago, five days ago or six days ago. It’s only important what we will be tomorrow night.”
Monterrey overcame reigning Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd 4-2 in the Round 2 game to set up a clash with the English side.
Klopp felt that their opponents are strong as they have a couple of good players.
“They have a specific way of playing, good players, technically good players. It’s just interesting, it’s slightly different. I don’t want to talk too much about tactical stuff because that’s the thing we try either way to do or to avoid,” he said.
