Klopp says Liverpool evoked the spirit of Istanbul to down Dortmund
Jurgen Klopp has revealed how Liverpool evoked the spirit of Istanbul to secure a place in the Europa League semi-finals after a thrilling win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Reds scored four second-half goals on Thursday night as they fought back from 2-0 and 3-1 down in the second leg of their last-eight tie to win 4-3, and prevail 5-4 on aggregate against Klopp's former side.
Liverpool were cut apart in the early stages at Anfield as they conceded twice in the opening nine minutes but their revival echoed their famous Champions League fightback against AC Milan in the 2005 final.
Klopp said: "The counter-attack of Dortmund is, in some moments, (something you cannot) defend and we saw that after four minutes, after nine minutes.
"Very often in football, the game is over then but not here, not with this Liverpool team. That is great to be part of.
"But at half-time, there was a good atmosphere because I was satisfied, not with the goals, but the game in general.
"I told the lads, 'I was not there, but a few older Liverpool players - most of them now experts on television - were 3-0 down at half-time and won a Champions League final. So, even though it is not likely, it is possible. We should try it'. And they did.
"We scored, and everyone could see something happening in the stadium. You could see it, hear it, smell it. Then a brilliant attacking situation - Dortmund 3-1.
"Then really that is the moment in football and life when you have to show character and that's what the lads did, and it was pretty cool to watch.
"To come back in a game like this against this highest quality opponent, you need a little bit of luck but everybody who saw the game would have to say, at the end, it was deserved."
It was another of Anfield's famous European nights and Klopp had praise for the fans, who built up a ferocious atmosphere throughout.
He said: "It was an outstanding atmosphere. We need experience like this to grow together. Now we have something like a milestone and that is really good."
