LONDON — Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is rooting for Eintracht Frankfurt as they attempt to shock Chelsea and reach the Europa League final, coach Adi Hutter has revealed.
Klopp masterminded one of the greatest comebacks in the history of European football on Tuesday as Liverpool overcame a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield and book their place in a second consecutive Champions League final.
Hutter said he congratulated Klopp after the match, and the Liverpool boss responded by wishing Eintracht all the best in their bid to overcome Chelsea — who scored a valuable away goal in a 1-1 draw in Germany last week — against the odds in Thursday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.
“He wished everything well for Eintracht Frankfurt,” Hutter said of his conversation with Klopp via a translator. “I did congratulate him for getting to the final. I watched the game and I was enamoured with the match.
“If you believe something then you can put that across to his team. His team played great. They had passion and were brave. They have been like that all year. I hope my team play like that.
“In the Europa League and Bundesliga we have played like that. Everything is possible. The favourite is Chelsea, but everything is possible and we can get to the final.
“I think it was impressive how Liverpool played as a team and won this game. The team spirit was great. It won over individual class.
“They had the desire and passion to win that game. That’s something we will need tomorrow. Those are characteristics that we have. We will want to bring that. It is important we do that tomorrow.”
Eintracht will be boosted by the return of Croatia international forward Ante Rebic from suspension for Thursday’s second leg, while Hutter also raised the possibility of French striker Sebastien Haller making a dramatic comeback at Stamford Bridge after more than a month out with an abdominal injury.
“We took him with us,” he added of Haller. “We took 18 players with us [to London]. He has good therapy behind him, he trained yesterday. He is doing well. Possibly he will play tomorrow.”