Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich has hailed rock solid Liverpool as favorites to win their Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
Talking exclusively to the Telegraph, Kimmich praised the Reds’ and spoke very highly of manager Jurgen Klopp.
Die Roten have had a poor season by their own lofty standards and sit second in the Bundesliga, while Kimmich couldn’t help but admire the consistency that Klopp has brought to Liverpool this campaign.
“They have lost one league game all season and have let in only 15 goals,” oozed the 24-year-old defender. “But when you look at us, we are not as consistent as before” continued Kimmich, before admitting that he believed the Reds were favorites to win the Champions League tie.
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Kimmich signed for Bayern from RB Leipzig in 2015 and has won three league titles in a row, but under Niko Kovac they have struggled and are entering into a period of transition as Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben draw closer to the end of their illustrious careers.
Speaking about managers that he admires, the highly rated defender couldn’t help but talk passionately about Klopp. Kimmich continued: “He can coach every team, including our national team.”
And even though he once lead Bayern’s great rivals Borussia Dortmund to glory, Klopp is loved across Germany. “Everybody likes him. He is just really authentic” concluded Kimmich.
This might be a great episode of mind games from everyone involved with the German giants, who have been keen to talk themselves down and put pressure on Liverpool to win the tie.
Earlier in the week Robben gave an interview to the Daily Mail in which he confessed his unease at playing under Anfield lights, and now one of their next generation of greats has confessed to being the under dog.
It all has a smell of Pep Guardiola on it – the man who must have had an influence on Kimmich and Robben. Guardiola isn’t afraid of bigging up the Reds publicly as he tries to increase the pressure on the side to win the Premier League.
But all of this won’t matter if Klopp sends his team out in the right mindset and we come away with a win.