Jürgen Klopp's voice almost cracked when he rated Liverpool's wild game.

After the 3:1 in the first leg in the quarterfinals of the Champions League at Benfica Lisbon, there was a 3:3 at Anfield Road.

That was enough to get into the semi-finals, but it was nerve-wracking.

Ultimately, Klopp didn't care at all.

"I couldn't be happier.

If the day comes that my team qualifies for the semi-finals and I'm not looking forward to it like a little kid, please come by and just give me a smack.

That would be complete madness," he said at DAZN.

Tobias Rabe

Responsible editor for Sport Online.

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Nobody had to physically attack the German coach of Liverpool Football Club on Wednesday evening.

Klopp was happy.

His players were happy.

And the fans too.

However, the journey was more nerve-wracking than I had hoped.

And according to his own statement, that was due to the coach.

"Everything negative that happened today was absolutely my fault." After the top game spectacle against Manchester City last Sunday, Klopp put seven stars on the bench: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Thiago , Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

"From my point of view, I had to do it," Klopp justified his choice of personnel.

“It then automatically happens that a completely newly assembled defense can feel a bit rusty at certain moments.” The course of the game added to that.

"We were through with the 3:1.

We don't have to pretend that anyone still believed that the whole thing was going to be close here.” As in the first leg, former Leipzig player Ibrahima Konaté gave Liverpool the lead after a corner (21st minute).

Gonçalo Ramos (32') equalized for Benfica this time.

"It's anything but cool"

After the half-time break, former Hoffenheim player Roberto Firmino made it 2-1 for the “Reds” (55th) and followed up ten minutes later (65th).

The Liverpool goalscorers were all among the newcomers who Klopp sent onto the pitch for the rested players.

Blessed is he who has such an exquisite selection.

Then Roman Yaremchuk (73') and Darwin (82') scored to make it 3-3.

Benfica needed two extra goals.

"Of course that's anything but cool," said Klopp about the final phase, which didn't go as hoped.

Benfica scored again but Darwin's goal was disallowed for offside.

And so at the end of the evening at Anfield, everyone was somehow satisfied.

"They (Benfica/ed.) were here to have fun, they had it.

Nevertheless we are further.

And that's cool," said Klopp.

In the semifinals on April 27 at home against Bayern conqueror Villarreal, the decision about a place in the final on May 3 in Spain is made.

"Anyone who throws out Juventus and Bayern has to be in the semi-finals," said Klopp.

“Coach Unai Emery is the king of cup competitions, unbelievable what he pulls off.

They will have a clear plan.

And so do we.”

Before the Champions League, however, the FA Cup and the Premier League are on the schedule.

The giants will meet again on Saturday (4.30 p.m. on DAZN).

Despite the busy program, Klopp is looking forward to Manchester City.

"It's going to be interesting because City did really well," he said, looking back at Sunday's league draw.

“Not all of our performances were as good as we can play.” The pitch at Wembley makes him a bit worried: “The pitch is huge, you have to defend a pile of grass.

But I definitely want to."

Pep Guardiola should also feel it.

But first he and his family have to recover from a difficult evening in Madrid.

After a 1-0 win in the first leg, a goalless draw at Atlético was enough to get them through to the semi-finals.

As expected, an enormously heated duel ensued.

In the end there was a pack formation and 13 minutes of stoppage time.

The German referee Daniel Siebert distributed the yellow-red card for Atlético's Felipe in this highly demanding task.

"We knew it wasn't easy to play here.

There's a heated atmosphere here," said City defender John Stones.

Guardiola knew that beforehand.

"This opponent is strong.

All Champions League teams come here and suffer,” says the coach, who knows Atlético well from his Barcelona days.

"It's important that we progressed." Now the former archrival Real Madrid is waiting for the Catalans.

It will be a duel between the football heavyweights.

Manchester City has home advantage on April 26, and the decision in this duel will also be made in Spain on May 4.

Then the finale awaits on May 28th in Paris.

English and Spaniards are now among themselves in the premier class.

And the Bundesliga looks on with envy again.