The Reds boss admitted he was a poor loser, after finally relinquishing a remarkable record which had seen him go undefeated in European knockout ties before this painful defeat which saw Liverpool crash out of the Champions League.
Klopp’s men did more than enough to win and go through to the quarter-finals of the competition they triumphed in last season – only a horror show from their keeper Adrian, and a miraculous night from his opposite number Jan Oblak denying the English club.
And afterward, the German coach couldn’t resist a brutal assessment of the Spanish side, even as he praised his team.
“The way they play, I don’t get it. I don’t understand how they get some of the best players in the world playing like that,” he said.
“Congratulations to Atletico, but I’m a really under-average loser. And if I said everything that was on my mind I would come across as the worst loser in the world.
“I’m super proud of the boys because for 95 minutes we played a sensational game. We were the clear better side, dominated a team which is packed with world-class players who are difficult to break down – but we did it constantly.
“I feel proud. I told them already they should be proud.
“The last two and a half years in the Champions League has been an incredible ride and journey. In some moments we needed luck or a really good hand and we didn’t have that tonight.
