Ahead of the Europa League clash between Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United, Jurgen Klopp has stated that he is desperate for a win over Louis van Gaal.
Klopp lost their only meeting in the Premier League this season which was also held at Anfield and the German did speak about his opponent but did not call him an enemy in this crucial match for both sides.
"I don't believe in enemies in football, I believe in real football opponents," Klopp stated during his prematch news conference on Wednesday. "I've absolutely nothing against Louis van Gaal but it's the last thing I want that he wins.
"You can be best friends but for 90 minutes you must forget that. It's the mother of football games, that's what you want when you are young."
Van Gaal and Klopp had met each other a number of times in the Bundesliga and Klopp did speak about the enormity of this clash, comparing it with the rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke in Germany.
"It's a big challenge but the best thing you can do in football. It's big, I don't have to compare. If you work in Dortmund and play Schalke, it's not possible to talk about anything else - and it's similar here. I hope it's not the biggest game in my Liverpool career but it's very important."
Van Gaal unfairly criticised
The Liverpool manager did, however, lend his support to Louis van Gaal, who has faced a lot of heat this season due to Manchester United's form. However, the German was confident his side would come out on top in the battle between two of England's biggest teams.
"He's one of the most successful managers in the world," said Klopp. "We played against him a lot of times when he was at Bayern. First time maybe we lost - probably we lost - but then we learned, found the Bayern style and had the longest winning run against Bayern in the history of German football, I think five games.
"I'm pleased for him that he's changed fortunes because after a long career it's not OK that a few of you gave him the idea he knows nothing about football.
"We want to make their problems bigger, but they have changed enough that we don't have to be sorry for Man United."
First meeting in Europe
The clash at Anfield would be the first meeting between the two sides in Europe. Manchester United had won both the matches this season and will look to continue their good run of form against the Merseyside club.
Both teams have struggled for form this season and require a string of good results in the Premier League to ensure they qualify for the Champions League through the league standings. Liverpool are seventh on 44 points while Manchester United are sixth on 47 points though they have played a game more than the Merseyside team.
Winning the Europa League does guarantee a position in the main round of the Champions League the following year. Sevilla became the first team to do just that as they competed in this season’s Champions League by winning the Europa League last season.
