The Peninsula
Liverpool relied on a feisty fight to seal victory over Monterrey on Wednesday night and manager Jurgen Klopp expects a tougher test for the Reds when they take on South American champions Flamengo in the final of FIFA Club World Cup.
Tomorrow’s title-match is dubbed the rematch of 1981 Intercontinental Cup final when Flamengo - led by Zico - defeated Liverpool 3-0 in Tokyo.
The Brazilian side, who reached the final after defeating Al Hilal 3-1 in the first semi-final on Tuesday, are in fine form with their 30-match unbeaten streak ending only last week, and Klopp is aware what lies ahead for his European champions in the clash at Qatar’s iconic Khalifa International Stadium.
“It will be more difficult for sure, just because it’s the next game and we have now to collect our bones. I don’t know who exactly will be ready for the next game, so we will see,” said the Liverpool manager, who is hoping to guide his side to maiden world crown.
“Probably Flamengo’s season is over, they are here with the full squad pretty much as well. We have just to recover as quick as possible and to make ourselves ready. But we saw Flamengo, of course, in the other semi-final and it was an open game for a long period. We will see who deals better with the circumstances, who has more right decisions,” Klopp added.
“But with Jorge Jesus as a manager, of course there’s a European influence and that’s it, but the player themselves already have quality. If there would not be a European coach, it would already be difficult,” he said.
Liverpool laboured to 2-1 victory against Monterrey in the semi-final after Roberto Firmino’s strike in stoppage time.
Monterrey were impressive throughout the match as the CONCACAF Champions League winners looked at par with the runaway Premier League leaders till Firmino fired the winner.
“I don’t think it was possible to be a different way. The hard way we saw now with a couple of games here in this tournament and obviously each team is here to represent the country, the continent, whatever, and try everything to be successful. The opponent tonight did exactly the same,” said Klopp before praising the Mexican side.
“I was never in doubt about that (Monterrey quality): why should we think that European football stands over all or whatever?
“But still, one game is not enough – you cannot judge a player after one game and you cannot judge a team after one game. But they are good, I saw in the game against Al Sadd already good players, all that stuff,” he said.
The Liverpool boss also hailed striker Mohamed Salah’s performance, who played role in both of team’s goals against Monterrey.
“The attention on Mo Salah in this part of the world is obviously massive. I thought he played a sensationally good game for all that happened around. When you go out for warming up and everybody is only looking at you, I wouldn’t feel too comfortable with that. But he dealt really well, he was always a threat, he played a really, really good game,” said Klopp.
Meanwhile, Monterrey coach Antonio Mohamed was happy with his team’s performance.
“The team played really well and gave everything,” he said.
“Overall I thought we had the clearest chances and their goalkeeper made four or five big saves. It would have been fairer had the game gone to extra time.”