Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the families of his squad and staff were inconvenienced in the chaotic shambles outside the Stade de France that cause the delay of the kick-off of Saturday’s Champions League final.<\/p>\n
Real Madrid again came through in the end to win the game 1-0 and lifted their 14th European Cup, although the night will be remembered not only for the football but also for the unsavory fracas outside the stadium.<\/p>\n
UEFA attributed the cause of the untoward events to “fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles” that saw supporters held up outside the stadium and fans were subsequently targeted by tear gas as police tried to disperse the crowds.<\/p>\n
“I couldn’t speak to my family yet, but I know the families had a real struggle to get into the stadium,” said Klopp.<\/p>\n
“I heard a few things that were not good, not nice. Obviously it was pretty tricky out there but I don’t know more about it.”<\/p>\n
In a statement, Liverpool called for a “formal investigation” into failings of the security measures.<\/p>\n
“This is the greatest match in European football and supporters should not have to experience the scenes we have witnessed tonight,” added the club’s statement.<\/p>\n
The moment the action got underway, the Reds failed to triumphantly round off their spectacular season and were denied by a series of stunning saves by Madrid goalkeeper supremo Thibaut Courtois.<\/p>\n
Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the game just before the hour mark when the Brazilian turned in Fede Valverde’s cross.<\/p>\n
“When the goalkeeper is man of the match then something is going wrong for the other team,” added Klopp.<\/p>\n
“We had three really big chances where Courtois made incredible saves.”<\/p>\n
Despite the disappointment, Klopp called on Liverpool fans to take to the streets of the city on Sunday when they parade the League Cup and FA Cup.<\/p>\n
The Reds also fell just short in the Premier League as Manchester City pipped Klopp’s men to the title by one point.<\/p>\n
“I feel the pride already, but I saw I was the only one in the dressing room at the moment, the boys need a bit more time.<\/p>\n
“These boys played an outstanding season. The two competitions we couldn’t win, we didn’t win for the smallest possible margin.”<\/p>\n
Klopp believes his side will be back for more after reaching a third Champions League final in five years.<\/p>\n
“The difference between now and 2018 (when Liverpool lost the final 3-1 to Madrid) is I see us coming again,” he said. “I wished it but I couldn’t know it.<\/p>\n
“They have an incredible attitude, it’s a fantastic group and we will go again.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"