Klopp: My only opponents were my best friends

Cape Town - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is "really looking forward" to facing former club Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday.

The Reds head to Signal Iduna Park for the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday, a ground Klopp is familiar with after seven years at the helm of BVB before his move to England.

"Borussia Dortmund are, at this moment, one of the strongest teams in world football," the German coach told his club's official website.

"It's a real challenge, but a real opportunity for us to show that it is possible in games like this for us to beat one of the best teams in the world. That's cool, I like this."

Having won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, as well as an appearance in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 2013, Klopp is a famous figure at his former club, but he is happy to maintain a competitive spirit against close acquaintances.

"The public hype I am usually not interested in, but as a private person… I know nearly every person at Dortmund," the 48-year-old added.

"When I started playing football, my only opponents were my best friends - and I always want to win. It's not a problem, really – not for me and, unfortunately, not for them too!"