Clash of styles as Liverpool face Atletico

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp said yesterday that he was not a fan of Spanish side Atletico Madrid’s style of play but could not argue with their results on the pitch.

The Reds travel to Madrid today to take on Atletico in the Champions League group stage.

Klopp, who criticised Atletico’s physically demanding and defensive style after Liverpool’s defeats, argued that those comments had stemmed from anger and disappointment, not a lack of respect for the Spanish team.

“After the second game (last season) I was angry and disappointed about a lot of things,” Klopp said.

“Life, a bit, as well as things going wrong in the world at that moment. We played against a team full of world class players and they defended with all they had.

“(Diego Simeone) is doing everything right, he is the Spanish champion and he has been at Atletico for a long time. He keeps them on their toes and they fight for their lives. I couldn’t respect it more.

“Do I like it? Not too much. But that’s because I like a different style of football. It just has to be successful and that is what Atletico is for sure.”

The German added that beating Atletico over both legs this season would likely seal Liverpool’s progress to the knockout rounds.

Group B will also see AC Milan try to eliminate individual errors and improve their concentration today in an effort to get their European campaign back on track in two decisive games against Porto, coach Stefano Pioli said yesterday.

The seven-time European champions suffered defeats by Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in their opening two games, leaving them bottom of the group.

“A lot is missing before we are great again, but we are on the right road. There are still a lot of steps to take, like the one (tonight). The team wants to finally get a positive result in the Champions League,” Pioli said. “We have to keep clear heads and stay focused for the whole game. In the first two matches we paid dearly for each mistake.

“We must have total focus when we have the ball and in the defensive phase. We lost the first two games because of two moments of carelessness.”

Meanwhile, Club Brugge’s players must raise their performances to have any chance against Manchester City, said coach Philippe Clement.

The Belgians, who have had a surprisingly positive start in Group A, will be the underdogs when they host the English champions today.

“We always want to win our next match and this one is no different,” Clement said.

“But we will have to be at our best, every player will have to be at his best level, and some will have to play even beyond their best.

“The bar is certainly a lot higher for this game.

“We believe we have a chance against every opponent.

“I don’t think we are going to get 20 chances in the game but there will be one. It means we will have to be really efficient.”