Kieran Trippier responds to Jürgen Klopp's criticism | OneFootball

Kieran Trippier has hit back at Jürgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager slammed Atlético for not playing ‘proper football’ after the Reds were dumped out of the Champions League.

Despite owning just 29 per cent possession, Atlético were able to advance with a 3-2 win (4-2 on aggregate) and Trippier isn’t bothered by the manner in which they got the victory.

“People have this perception that we’re a defensive side, but I think they’re getting too carried away with the way we played against Liverpool,” said the Atlético defender.

“If you go there and go toe-to-toe with Liverpool, you’re going to get beat 6-0. I don’t know what people expect.

“You see pundits complaining because we did defend, but did they expect us to go there and play attacking football, especially with Liverpool playing the way that they’re playing at the moment?

“You need to go there with a plan and we did that.

“We did have to defend, but the most important thing is that we got the win.”

Trippier also claimed that Atlético went into the match planning to absorb Liverpool’s pressure until they tired themselves out.

“We knew they would blow up because of the amount of pressure they’d applied and the amount of energy they’d put into the game,” said the right-back.

“We knew they’d slow down. It took us over 100 minutes, but we won 3-2.

“People can complain as much as they want, but we thought it was necessary for that type of game.

“As I’ve got older it has stopped bothering me.

“Liverpool didn’t put their chances away and we beat them in both legs. It worked.”

Atlético are one of four teams that have clinched their place in the Champions League quarter-finals along with RB Leipzig, Atalanta, and PSG.