Football
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Liverpool 'back' where they belong regardless of Champions League final result - Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the club are back where they belong after a spell in the European wilderness.

The five-time winners of the European Cup will play in their first Champions League final since 2007 after successfully negotiating only their second campaign in UEFA's premier club competition in the last eight years.

For Klopp that is validation enough that Liverpool have been restored to Europe's top table.

However, the manner in which they have dismantled teams this season -- "big b---- football'' according to Klopp -- is further evidence they are a force to be reckoned with and one defending champions Real Madrid will be wary of.

"I don't think we need that moment [of victory] to restore it. I think it is obvious we are back,'' said Klopp.

"To qualify for a final, it shows that you are back. To win it? You need a little bit of luck. But we are back, first and foremost.

"We really don't need [the trophy] to show how good we are. We have shown how good we are.

"Even if you win, you cannot stop. If you lose, you cannot stop. I really like the way we are in as a club, as a team.

"That is most important. Not this week. In general, it is important that the club goes in the right direction. That is very positive.

"What I said to the boys before the semifinal [against Roma] was that I don't think we are [here for] the last time.

"I didn't want to take the pressure off them or whatever, I only think we are a club and a team next year that could, not will, but could be here again far in the competition.''

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum echoed his manager's sense of belonging in the upper reaches of Europe, adding he believes the club and its supporters have been waiting for a moment like this.

"We're a great club with great supporters, waiting for a moment like this. I hope we can give the club and the supporters, and of course ourselves, the win over Real Madrid,'' said the Netherlands international.

"I think really important for us as players but also for the club, the supporters, I think for everyone.

"We worked really hard to get here during the years so it's always good if you receive something when you've worked hard.''

Klopp has the chance to become only the fourth manager in the club's long history to win a European Cup, following in the hallowed footsteps of Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Rafael Benitez.

"That would be cool but, actually, I really didn't think about it so far. It wouldn't help. Unfortunately, we cannot ask most of them [for help] any more,'' Klopp added.

"I think it would be well deserved after a long period without big enjoyment. We do it for that and not so I could join a group of outstanding managers.''

To do that he will have to reverse his appalling record in finals which has seen him lose his last five, including in the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich.

"I know the pressure will come, that's how it is but in this moment I only feel the opportunity,'' he said. "I am really happy to be here.

"I have no clue how it will feel when I go to the next final. I lost the last five and then you think, 'Oof really?'

"The thing is maybe the history of this club shows you it is possible to win things. It's not that you need to be the most special manager in the world.

"This club gives you the power, the players, the teams, that you can win from time to time big things.''

Liverpool have lost their two previous finals under Klopp and Wijnaldum admits it is hurdle they must overcome but feels the general progress being made is equally important.

"I don't feel we play with that pressure that we came close,'' Wijnaldum added.

"We're just building something and we just hope we get better every year.

"We know how difficult it is to win the Premier League or the FA Cup because you have so many good teams.

"Take Manchester City as an example, they only lost two games this season and I don't know how many they drew? Four? So only in six games you can drop points. That's unbelievable.

"If you want to compete with them, you have to win almost all of your games. That's really hard. We just want to work to that level to compete with teams that do this.''

Even if Liverpool win the Champions League, Wijnaldum said that does not necessarily mean success will come easier.

"It's not a guarantee if you win this,'' he said.

"You will be rewarded for the hard work you did before. I think it's more like that than to say: 'Oh, we won the Champions League, now we can win [the Premier League].' It's easy to say.''

Real, seeking to become the first club to win the competition in its current form three years in succession, are favourites but Klopp has a confidence about his side -- especially after seeing Los Blancos concede two goals against Villarreal last weekend.

"We know, of course, about the crazy quality, the experience,'' he said.

"The Villarreal game was a show of confidence. They were 2-0 up and then they closed the game too early.

"But we are Liverpool. We are different. We have been different the whole campaign and we want to be different again in the final. We have a chance. That is all.''

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