Jurgen Klopp sends message of solidarity to Ukraine ahead of the Champions League final
‘We play this game for people of Ukraine’: Jurgen Klopp dedicates the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid to the war-torn country… as he claims UEFA have sent out the ‘right message’ by moving the match from Saint Petersburg to Paris
- The Champions League final will be played in Paris instead of Saint Petersburg
- This decision was made in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
- Jurgen Klopp believes UEFA made the right decision to change venues
- The Liverpool manager has dedicated Saturday’s final to the citizens of Ukraine
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has backed UEFA’s decision to move the Champions League final from Russia to France, and has sent a message of support to Ukraine ahead of Saturday’s showpiece event.
The final was originally due to be played at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg, but was switched to the Stade de France following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine back in February.
Klopp feels the right call was made to change venues given the current situation between Russia and Ukraine.
Saturday’s Champions League final was originally set to be played in Saint Petersburg
It will now take place at the Stade de France in Paris after UEFA decided to switch venues
‘I am happy the game is here for thousands of reasons,’ Klopp said in his pre-match conference on Friday, shortly after arriving in Paris for his side’s clash against Real Madrid.
‘The war is still going on and we have to think about it. The game still happens and not in Saint Petersburg is the right message.
‘We play this game for people of Ukraine.’
Jurgen Klopp has backed UEFA’s decision, and has dedicated the final to Ukraine
Liverpool will head into the final aiming for their seventh European Cup as they look to cap off a remarkable campaign which has seen them win both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
The Reds missed out on the Premier League title in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season on Sunday, ending their quadruple hopes, but they can still finish with a treble if they triumph in Paris.
Their game against Real Madrid is a rematch of the 2018 final, which took place in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. The Spanish giants won that match 3-1 to pick up their 13th European crown.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team have seen off PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City this term to set up a showdown with Liverpool, and a win on Saturday would be their fifth Champions League victory in the last eight years.
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