The last 16 first leg went perfectly for Klopp, who was asked if the scoreline was harsh on the home team.
He stated: Yeah. So, the result is much better than the performance, that's true. Sparta played a good game; Sparta took some risks in our possession, they (were) hiding wingers slightly (and) our protection was not good, so they could create these counter-attacks. We lost a few unnecessary balls, which is then difficult to protect, but in other moments we should have done better.
We adapted during the game and could again actually tell the boys in half-time how we should do it, but then we conceded a goal immediately. But after that it was then not that we controlled it much better and Sparta had chances but I think, I am not 100 per cent sure, but I think two of the big chances they had looked for me offside and Caoimh (Kelleher) made a save and we never saw the flag then. Nobody watched these situations back but that's fine.
But, how I said, Sparta took risks, we punished them for that in other moments, we scored wonderful goals, we had good moments in the game, really good moments in the game and we are not like that, that we think coming here is a walk in the park. It obviously was not a walk in the park, we had to work a lot, but we did not expect an easy game and it was not. But it was a good result and now we fly home, recover and in seven days we meet again."