Jurgen Klopp will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky when Liverpool play Champions League holders Real Madrid in the final on 26 May in Kiev.
The 50-year old German knows that this is his chance to break the jinx, if there is any.
The former Borussia Dortmund coach is yet to win a trophy since taking over from Brendan Rodgers in October 2015 despite leading Liverpool to the League Cup final in 2016, which he lost to Manchester City on penalties at Wembley.
Three months down the line and Liverpool was in the final of the Europa League against Spanish side Sevilla, but again they lost.
With the Champions League final staring him in the face, Klopp has a chance to write his name in Liverpool’s history book by becoming the fourth manager to lead them to a European Cup/Champions League triumph after Bob Paisley (1977, 1978 and 1981), Joe Fagan (1984) and Rafael Benitez (2005).
YYEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!! Kiev here we come!!! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/NIVKjLHCiy
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 2, 2018
The knockout stage. Our road to Kiev. #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/eW3JcjU2No
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 3, 2018
But its not his first shot at reaching the Champions League final. Klopp guided Dortmund to the final in 2012-13 season but they lost 2–1 to Bayern Munich, with an 89th-minute goal from Arjen Robben.
His past five finals have all ended in defeat, a statistic that will have to end if Liverpool are to be crowned champions of Europe for a sixth time.
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Klopp is aware of this and will look to rewrite the history books. “We were in a League Cup final and didn’t win it,” the Liverpool manager said.
“People don’t tell me in the street since then: ‘Thank you for bringing us to the final.’ We were in the Europa League final too. Nobody tells me thank you. I see no trophies after these games.
“They don’t hang silver medals at Melwood. That’s a pity, but that’s the game. There’s still a job to do.
“Going to a final is really nice but winning is even nicer. We will be ready but it is Real Madrid. You cannot be more experienced in this competition than Real Madrid.
“I think 80% of their team played all these finals. They are four times in the last five years and still together. They are experienced, we are not, but we will be really on fire.”
