Jurgen Klopp tells Liverpool fans: 'Book hotels for next year's Champions League final'

Jurgen Klopp told Liverpool fans to book their hotels for next year’s Champions League final in Istanbul because his players will bounce back from their defeat to Real Madrid.

Vinicius Junior’s winner meant defeat for Klopp’s team but the Liverpool manager said that his players can still look back on a successful season after winning the FA Cup and League Cup.

“It is not hard, I have that perspective but I am the only one in the dressing room,” said Klopp “We lost in Sevilla, Basle and Kiev but it is not bad to get to the final. It is already a kind of success but not the kind of success you want. But I have a feeling we will come again. We will have an outstanding group next season and we will go again. Where is it next year? Istanbul? Book the hotel.

“Of course, everyone in the dressing room doesn’t feel like it’s a great season and maybe they need a few minutes or a few hours.”

Klopp added in his Uefa press conference: “These boys played an outstanding season. The two competitions we couldn’t win, we didn’t for the smallest possible margin: one point, 1-0. City during the [Premier League] season, they were one point better and tonight Madrid was one goal better. That says nothing about us. The difference between 2018 and now is that I see us coming again. In 2018, I wished it but I couldn’t know. But these boys are really competitive, they have an incredible attitude.

“It is a fantastic group. We will go again, definitely. Tomorrow we will celebrate the season. It is good we don’t have to do that immediately but after a night’s sleep and maybe another speech from me, the boys will realise how special it was what we did. Even if nobody on this planet would understand we have a parade tomorrow, we still will do it. I really hope everybody has a chance to get to Liverpool tomorrow to celebrate together with us a fantastic season that didn’t end as we wanted. That’s fact but the club is in a good moment, we will go again.”

Despite having the better of the first half, Vinicius struck after finishing at the far post from Federico Valverde’s shot that was heading wide. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was then equal to Mohamed Salah’s efforts on goal as Liverpool chased an equaliser.

“We played a good game, not a perfect game but I don’t think a perfect game was possible against our opponent,” said Klopp. “We had a lot of shots but Courtois made top saves and we conceded a goal from a throw in. I think he was going to shoot but Vini was there. Goals you concede you never like, yes, but the boys tried everything and especially after we were 1-0 and then we played like we wanted before but with the deep midfield, the threat they have it is normal the threat they have. We wanted to be more brave in the second half.”

"The dressing room is quiet, we're devastated which is what happens when you get to a final and don't win," said Andy Robertson.

"They know how to win finals. We tried to press from the front which has worked for us and they ended up breaking up down and that is football. Then obviously it is hard to get back against a very experienced team."