Liverpool to play for Ukraine people in Champions League final: Klopp

With the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid taking place in Paris instead of St. Petersburg because of Russia invasion of Ukraine, coach Jurgen Klopp has said his team is playing for Ukraine

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp talks to his players during training ahead of the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris | Photo Credit: Reuters

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dedicated Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris to the people of Ukraine, expressing support for the country against Russia's invasion.

The game, a rematch of the 2018 final, had been scheduled for St Petersburg's Gazprom Arena but was shifted to the Stade de France after Russia's February 24 invasion of its neighbour.

Message for Russia

“I am happy that the game is here for thousands of reasons,” Klopp told reporters. “The war is still going on and we have to think about that.”

The German said moving the final to Paris was "exactly the right message that Russia should get".

Moscow calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine. Kyiv and the West call it an unprovoked war of aggression.

‘We play for Ukraine’

"We play this final for all the people in Ukraine. I am sure some people in Ukraine can still watch it and we do it for you, 100%," Klopp said.

Liverpool hopes to win a third trophy this season after success in the League Cup and FA Cup, while Real seeks to add to their La Liga triumph and clinch a record-extending 14th Champions League crown.