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Jurgen Klopp has been backed to win the Champions League – by the man who turned down a move to Liverpool because they weren't in the competition.

The Reds are eyeing a place in the final in Kiev on May 26 and take on Italian side Roma later this month in the semi-finals.

They progressed to the last four after beating runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in both legs of a dramatic quarter-final.

And Borussia Dortmund attacker Mario Gotze, who declined an opportunity to join Klopp at Anfield in the summer of 2016, believes his former boss can go one better having been runner-up with Gotze in the final with Dormund in 2013.

“The chance to win the Champions League is definitely there,” said Gotze. “Probably only Kloppo and a few others would have believed Liverpool could beat City in such a way.

“But the semi-finals and then final are again a different level. It's going to be exciting and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him.”

While Gotze also played under City boss Pep Guardiola while at Bayern Munich, he was siding with Klopp in the meeting of his ex-managers.

“It was generally a great thing in the first and second leg,” he said. “I played and trained under both and found it impressive to see both.

“That’s why it was so interesting who would win out in the end. To be honest, I was more pleased that Kloppo won.”

Gotze, in an in-depth interview with SportBild in Germany, was also asked if he was still in touch with Klopp.

“Every now and then, but I think he lives too far away now,” said the 25-year-old.

“Everyone has their own situation and we are in two different leagues. The exchange is there, but there it's not really about anything concrete. It’s not like he’s personally watching my game from afar.”