REVEALED: Jurgen Klopp wore Cristiano Ronaldo-branded boxers for his Champions League final team-talk against Real Madrid, leaving his Liverpool stars ‘on the floor laughing their heads off’
- Jurgen Klopp wore Cristiano Ronaldo-branded boxer shorts for team-talk
- The Liverpool boss had players in hysterics before 2018 Champions League final
- Real Madrid won 3-1 but Georginio Wijnaldum recalled incident with fondness
Georginio Wijnaldum has revealed that the Liverpool players were left in hysterics when manager Jurgen Klopp wore Cristiano Ronaldo-branded boxer shorts for his team-talk ahead of the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Klopp’s joke served to reduce the tension in the Liverpool squad, and, although they were eventually beaten 3-1 by Real in Kiev, Wijnaldum recalls the team-talk fondly.
The Liverpool boss stuffed his shirt inside his CR7 boxers, with the players left ‘on the floor’ laughing.
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp wore Cristiano Ronaldo boxers during Champions League team-talk
Klopp hilariously stuffed his shirt inside his ‘CR7’ boxers, leaving his players in hysterics
Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to beat Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final in Kiev
As reported by The Athletic, Wijnaldum said: ‘We saw he was wearing the boxer shorts of Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘He did the meeting with his shirt stuffed inside his “CR7” boxers. The whole changing room was on the floor laughing their heads off. That really broke the ice.
‘Usually in those situations, everyone is serious and concentrated. But he was relaxed and made this joke.’
Liverpool lost Mohamed Salah to injury in the first half following a robust challenge from Sergio Ramos and Real took the lead in the 51st minute through Karim Benzema.
Georginio Wijnaldum revealed Klopp often likes to make jokes to lighten the mood
Although Sadio Mane equalised for Liverpool, it was Real who prevailed, with Gareth Bale hitting a brace and Reds goalkeeper Loris Karius enduring a torrid time.
Wijnaldum added that Klopp’s team-talk wasn’t a one-off, with the charismatic coach often electing to lighten the mood.
‘He’s done hundreds of jokes likes that,’ Wijnaldum said.
‘If you see that your manager is really confident and relaxed, it will have an effect on players. He is a father figure in those things for the players. With his jokes and his body language, he takes the pressure off players.’
Klopp has managed to create a close-knit squad at Liverpool, with his side having experienced glory in the Champions League last season, while also missing out on winning the Premier League by just one point.
This season Liverpool will be aiming for further glory, and they started the Premier League campaign impressively by beating Norwich City 4-1.
