Thursday 3 May 2018 12:19, UK
Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool needed luck on their side as they won a "crazy" game against Roma to reach the Champions League final.
The Reds were beaten 4-2 by Roma in the second leg of the semi-final at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, but advanced 7-6 on aggregate and will meet Real Madrid in the final in Kiev on May 26.
Roma came close to pulling off a dramatic comeback but could not take several chances that fell their way in the second half.
"I have to give a big compliment to Roma," said Liverpool manager Klopp. "What a performance, what a comeback, what a brave football game.
"It was the first time we were not as good as we can be, so we needed luck and that's what we had, but over the whole Champions League campaign it's deserved. As I said before the game, it would have been deserved for Roma too.
"It would have been crazy if we played extra-time. I have no clue how that would have happened. Now it's 7-6 on aggregate which sounds crazy because it is. We came into the competition as a qualifier and are now in the final and I am really happy for the boys, for the club and our fans. It's been a fantastic ride so far and now we will go to Kiev, which sounds crazy but it is the truth.
"We cannot go to a Champions League final with constant nice football, that's not possible. You have to suffer from time to time and we suffered, I have no problem with that.
"Is there anything to criticise? No. These boys go constantly over their limit and I am really proud of that."
Looking ahead to the meeting against Real Madrid, who are bidding to win the competition for the third year in a row, Klopp said: "We will be ready but it's Real Madrid. You cannot be more experienced in the competition than Real Madrid.
"I think pretty much 80 per cent of their team played all these finals - four times in the last five years - and they are still together. They are experienced, we are not, but we will be on fire.
"We are looking forward to it but before that we have to play two more Champions League semi-finals in the Premier League and that's our job to do and then we have two weeks to prepare for the final."
Liverpool now turn their attentions back to the Premier League as they face Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The Reds can make sure of a top-four finish if they win at Stamford Bridge.
"Chelsea at the weekend is an unbelievably important game for us," added Klopp. "We recover tomorrow and then we go to Chelsea. They will fight for everything, that's life, and then we have one week before Brighton, which is very important probably."
