Saturday 19 March 2016 07:42, UK
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool's Europa League draw against Borussia Dortmund is "a story only football can write".
Klopp led Dortmund to successive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 and will go back to his old club on April 7 for the first leg of the quarter-final tie he did not want.
Now the dust has settled on the draw the German, who still owns three season tickets for Westfalenstadion, has revised his opinion.
"I am really happy with the draw," Klopp told the club's official website. "Why should I wish to get the strongest team in the tournament? But, obviously if you want to win the Europa League then you have to beat the strongest teams.
"It is better to play against them in two games than in only one game, and I am really happy to show the boys this wonderful stadium and a great city. It's a story only football can write."
Liverpool beat their most bitter rivals Manchester United over two legs to reach the last eight and the reward, as far as Klopp is concerned, is another of football's most thrilling fixtures.
"Two of the biggest clubs in the world meet each other in the Europa League, so everybody who thought a few months ago maybe it's not that interesting of a tournament, hopefully they've switched their minds in the last few weeks," Klopp added.
"The games against Manchester United were two great, great games and now against Dortmund. Going to Dortmund and playing in Dortmund is one of the best things you can do in football.
"They're a really strong opponent, but we are not bad too! Everybody knows our best games have been made against really strong sides. It's open and two games that I think the whole world will watch."
The one negative for Klopp is the spotlight that will inevitably fall on him as the tie approaches.
"I hate the hype around my person in these matches," Klopp added. "I know about the business and all the circumstances, but I don't like it."
