Former Liverpool Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek Maintains Full Confidence in Jurgen Klopp Ahead of Europa League Final Showdown

Europa League final is looking to be a thrilling game with online sportsbooks favouring the English side over the defending Spanish champions.

(Image credit: Live4Liverpool)

Jerzy Dudek, former goalie who made over 180 appearances for the Reds, believes there’s no one better than Jurgen Klopp to lead Liverpool to glory in the Europa League final on Wednesday evening. According to The Guardian, he expressed his delight that Liverpool were able to capture the German manager in October, as he harbours the “right mentality” for the job.

“I was scared to be honest. I don’t wish bad for anyone but I was scared Liverpool would miss out on Klopp,” said Dudek. “I knew he had the right mentality because I had spoken to (Robert) Lewansowski, (Lukasz) Piszczek and (Jakob) Blaszczykowski and they all said his mentality with the players, transmission to the supporters and knowledge of the game is so good. This is the right man for this club. I was scared maybe someone like Arsenal would take him before us.”

The former Polish international warned that Klopp, like every manager, needs time to prove himself at the club, but in a short span of time he’s managed to already lead Liverpool into the Europa League final. “He needs time, of course, but he deserves a lot of credit because a lot of managers are the same. They sign a contract and the first thing they do is sign 10 players. What he did was say: ‘I’ll give you a chance, you are good players, let me see.’ He will need to sign new players this summer to increase motivation and competition but he has shown a fantastic example,” the former Liverpool and Real Madrid goalkeeper said.

“Lewandowski said he is a guy who you never know is speaking seriously or speaking with love. Sometimes he can kill you on the pitch and then a few seconds later he is giving you a hug,” Dudek said. “Direction is important. He’ll scare you and then maybe he’ll tell you he said too much and gives you a hug. He stirs emotions and that is why the players are so focused.

“You never know when he is going to shout. You need to be focused because he is involved in every single moment. Lewandowski said that if Klopp sees someone switch off in training, even if that player is not in the team, he will go over and kill him. If the person gets upset he will say: ‘OK man, no problem, but don’t forget I am watching you.’ You have to be very focused to work for him.”

Liverpool last lifted the trophy in 2001 (Image credit: Campo)

That’s exactly why online sportsbooks favour the Reds to win the Europa League final on Wednesday evening. Online sportsbook Bet365 Sports gives Liverpool favourite odds 2.40 (7/5) due to their impressive form in recent times and, most importantly, their energetic manager.

(For more info about the online sportsbook, check out Betting Herald’s Bet365 Sports Review.)

Although Sevilla have won the Europa League final in the last two editions of the competition (2014 and 2015), they’ve been dealt underdog chances by most online sportsbook, including Bet365 3.20 (11/5). But considering the strength of both sides, a tie 3.40 (12/5) could actually come to happen during the 90 minutes.

If you’re unsure about the full time result, online sportsbook Bet365 offers a range of other markets for this match. The odds for Liverpool vs Sevilla match netting “over 2.5 goals” are 2.05 (21/20), while “under 2.5 goals” are 1.75 (3/4). Additionally, you can also bet on whether the goals during the game will be “odd” 1.95 (19/20) or “even” 1.90 (9/10) – we reckon they’ll be even.

For even more exciting bets, place a wager on the “goalscorers” market and support your favourite player to find the back of the net. Despite scoring only 2 goals in 7 appearances in the Europa League, Liverpool frontman Daniel Sturridge has put on some fine displays in recent games, so he’ll be eyeing a goal for himself in Basel tomorrow evening. Online sportsbook Bet365 gives him favourite odds to bag a goal at “anytime” 2.62 (13/8), while “first” 6.00 (5/1) and “last” 6.00 (5/1) goals are also among the possibilities for him.

Sevilla’s French forward Kevin Gameiro is the second favourite to score a goal at “anytime” during the game 2.87 (15/8). Overall this season, he’s notched a whopping 27 goals across all competitions, with 7 of them coming in Europe. (We suggest you also place a wager on him to score…)

Divock Origi is the next one on the list of potential goalscorers 3.40 (12/5), while Christian Benteke, Juan Munoz and Roberto Firmino are all tied as fourth favourites 3.60 (13/5) to find the back of the net during the Europa League final.