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Jurgen Klopp has hailed trusted lieutenants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz as the “best assistants in the world” ahead of Liverpool's Europa League semi-final clash with Villarreal.

The Reds boss says the input of the duo has been key to the progress he's overseen over the past six months.

Both Buvac and Krawietz enjoyed great success working with Klopp at Borussia Dortmund and followed him to Anfield last October.

Klopp also praised the contribution of goalkeeping coach John Achterberg and first-team development coach Pep Lijnders ahead of Thursday night's first leg at El Madrigal.

“I am not the worst manager in the world, but together with Pete and Zeljko we are a pretty good coaching team,” Klopp told liverpoolfc.com

“Now we have John and Pep involved in this team, two nice and hard working lads, so that’s brilliant. They are very important.

“I am far away from being a genius, but I am smart enough to know the things I am not good enough at. You need the best around – and that’s what we have at Liverpool. I enjoy this work.

“I have not only answers, I still have questions and so for me, it’s absolutely perfect. For those who have followed my way a little bit longer, know that I have two really strong, strong partners by my side with their own opinion.

“I know at the end always I decide – I have to decide, that is no problem and I like to do this – but I need knowledge, I need information, I need sometimes uncomfortable questions. That’s what you need to stay in the race or to become better.

“We are always in discussions and to be honest, most of the time we agree but we very often have discussions about different things.

“For me, I have the best assistants in the world. It’s clear, without them I would not be here.

“Everything is good in the backroom staff, more than good – nearly perfect! But in the end, we are all only here to be successful with Liverpool.”