Liverpool sunk by Atletico extra-time triple leaving Klopp at a loss

Liverpool sunk by Atletico extra-time triple leaving Klopp at a loss

Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp says he does not get Atletico’s style after the Spanish side eliminated Liverpool from Champions.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES SHOWS: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (MARCH 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID, MANAGER DIEGO SIMEONE, SAYING: "(We're) a team that values never having left our game plan, it never changed once.

We brought that to get to 2-1, which gave us a boost of strength and then it opened up some space we knew we'd have to wrap up a game that will go down in history for Atletico Madrid fans and it fills us with pride as a club to be amongst the best 8 teams in Europe once again." 2.

WHITE FLASH 3.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID, MANAGER DIEGO SIMEONE, ON HIS SIDE'S GAME PLANE, SAYING: "It's to win.

Using our weapons to win.

Respecting our identity, respecting the characteristics of the players we have, exploiting our rivals' weakness, and that's how we play." 4.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING: "I've said now already to pretty much all the TV stations.

I'm really an under-average loser, to be honest.

At least tonight.

If I were to say all the things I have on my mind I would look like the worst loser in the world.

So, I better stop here." JOURNALIST ASKING: "What else do you want to say?" KLOPP, SAYING: "Funny, I don't say it.

It's just about - the way they play, I just don't get.

I don't get it.

But, it's right.

The winner is right.

That's how it is." STORY: There are no points in the Champions League for aesthetically pleasing or entertaining football but Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said something didn't feel right about his team's defeat by defence-minded Atletico Madrid on Wednesday (March 11).

Holders Liverpool were hit by three goals in extra-time, losing 3-2 in the second leg of their last 16 tie at Anfield to go out 4-2 on aggregate and the German, who guided his team to the final in the past two seasons, couldn't resist some barbed comments about his counterpart Diego Simeone's tactics saying he doesn't understand how they play.

It was hardly a surprise, though, that the Spanish side adopted such an approach -- a tight defence and compact midfield has been the hallmark of Atletico during Argentine Simeone's eight years in charge.

Simeone cannot call on the world-class playmakers and strikers available to La Liga rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid and compensates with organisation, work-rate and an ability to work out the best way to punish opponents.

Klopp knows, however, that despite this disappointment, this is a memorable season for Liverpool who lead the Premier League by 25 points will surely be crowned English champions for the first time in 30 years.

So, he was not about to let his frustration turn into criticism of his strikers for the failure to convert chances into more goals as he heaped praise on his players.