Liverpool may have navigated the two legged tie with Manchester United in the Europa League Round of 16 with relative ease, but they’ve been handed a tricky test in the quarter-finals with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp set to square off with former club Borussia Dortmund after a twist of fate paired the two clubs together.
“I am really happy with the draw. Yesterday I said why should I wish [to get] the strongest team in the tournament, but obviously if you want to win the Europa League, and when you are in the quarter-final, then you have to beat the strongest teams,” said Klopp. “It is better to play against them in two games than in only one game,” he continued with a wide smile. “I am really happy to introduce my new team to Dortmund. I am really happy to show the boys this wonderful stadium and a great city. It’s a story only football can write.”
Having lead Die Borussen to two Bundesliga titles, a Champions League final and numerous other domestic finales during a memorable seven years at the Westfalenstadion, Klopp remains a much loved figure in Dortmund despite leaving his post last summer. The first leg will be played out in Germany on April 7th before the return back on Merseyside a week later and it’s safe to say it’ll be an exciting — and emotional — time for all involved.
“Given our experiences this season, it was always to be expected that Alexander Frei would not give us just a mundane draw,” said Hans-Joachim Watzke, Dortmund’s general manager, on the club’s official website. “Now Jurgen Klopp‘s coming back home with Liverpool, and it’s certainly going to be something quite special,” he continued. “We were always sure that we were going to meet the Reds at some stage of this competition and we’re now looking forward to two extremely attractive European matches.”
