Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has stated that his team would not underestimate Villarreal in their Champions League semi-final match.Unai Emery has led the Yellow Submarine to triumphs against Juventus and Bayern Munich on their way to the final four, with the first leg set for Wednesday night at Anfield.
Liverpool is still the favourites to reach the final, but Klopp has stated that his team would treat Emery’s side with the respect they deserve ahead of their trip to La Ceramica.
“Villarreal are made for this competition to be honest. Juventus and Bayern may have under-estimated them, that won’t happen to us,” Klopp told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
“They are a really, really good football team who want to make history as well. They are 7th in the league, but they have had a really good run of results. They beat Bayern – they beat Valencia – Spain is a very competitive league as well. Unai shows he has a plan for each result, whether 1-0 up or 1-0 down.
“There are moments when we will suffer tomorrow night and I know that. We don’t need to get nervous but we can make them suffer too. We will work with our result and fight at Villarreal because it means everything to us.”
Klopp previously hailed Villarreal boss Emery as the “king of the cups” after advancing past Benfica into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
