Jurgen Klopp hopes Liverpool can evoke spirit of Barcelona comeback at Atalanta
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will evoke the spirit of their Barcelona comeback when he sends his team out to keep their Europa League hopes alive against Atalanta in Bergamo.
The Reds have a 3-0 deficit to overturn from the first leg if they are to make the semi-finals, a scenario which has echoes of their famous comeback to beat the Catalan side in a Champions League semi-final in May 2019 on their way to winning a sixth European Cup.
After that victory his players remarked about the stirring speech he gave in the dressing room before kick-off and Klopp said, although he does not yet have anything planned, he can use that brilliant night at Anfield as a reference point even though they will not have the backing of a home crowd.
“I usually don’t prepare these things like that, especially not the day before or four years before whatever,” he said.
“I remember I said, ‘If we fail, then let’s fail in the most beautiful way’. And that’s exactly how I see it again.
“After the game (last week) everyone in the stadium thought ‘that’s it’. Now it’s a week later I don’t think everyone thinks it is already decided
“We want to win the game. If we want to win, we better play good. If we play good, we have a chance to win it. Then we will see.”
That Barcelona victory is the only time in Liverpool’s long European history they have overturned a three-goal first leg deficit.
However, they have never made such a comeback playing the second leg away from home and in the four first leg European ties they have lost at Anfield they have never progressed to the next round.
Liverpool hammered Atalanta 5-0 at home in a behind-closed-doors Champions League group game during lockdown in November 2020 – having lost the home leg 2-0 – and Klopp hopes they can capitalise on any indecision the hosts may have about how to approach their seemingly comfortable lead.
“Tomorrow is more difficult because they don’t have to score at all,” he added.
“We will see who deals better with the situation. If Atalanta go through then they will deserve it. If not, then something special will have happened.
“We have to do better. It’s really not simple because usually you fight for everything but when you are 3-0 up it is not easy for them.”
Despite their significant advantage, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini is not underestimating the occasion as they seek to book only the second European semi-final spot in the club’s history.
“We know that it will be one of the most important games in our history, if not the most important,” he told a press conference.
“Even though we won the first leg, tomorrow we start again at 0-0. Our focus will have to be not to think about the result of the first leg.”
Captain Marten De Roon added: “I don’t think only in Bergamo but I believe that all of Italy will be behind us tomorrow.”
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Chelsea
Chelsea duo return to training ahead of FA Cup semi-final
Chelsea boosted by return of two starters to training
Blues face Man City in FA Cup semi-final on Saturday
Several players remain sidelined through injury
By Tom Gott
Apr 17, 2024
Some good news for Chelsea
Some good news for Chelsea / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
Chelsea's preparations for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City have been boosted by the return to training of both midfielder Enzo Fernandez and centre-back Axel Disasi.
The pair both missed Chelsea's 6-0 win over Everton through various issues but were spotted in the Blues' training photos on Wednesday, with Disasi even sporting a new haircut in preparation for Saturday's trip to Wembley.
Fernandez's fitness has been a major topic of discussion on social media after Argentinian outlet Show Sport reported the 23-year-old is in need of surgery on an abdominal problem.
Talk of a potential abdominal issue for Fernandez has been rife for months now and the midfielder is now reported to be considering going under the knife after the FA Cup semi-final against City.
Enzo Fernandez
Fernandez is back in action / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Robert Sanchez, Raheem Sterling, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu also missed the Everton game through injury and manager Mauricio Pochettino is unlikely to have many of that group available against Pep Guardiola's side.
Sterling has been battling a back injury but ruled himself out of training ahead of the Everton game through sickness, with Pochettino confirming further medical checks had to be done before the winger could return to the group.
Goalkeeper Sanchez has also been unwell but could be in line to return soon, but Pochettino does not expect too many returning faces before Saturday's game.
The boss may be reluctant to make too many changes after perhaps the best performance of his Chelsea tenure so far against Everton, although left-back Ben Chilwell will hope to start after impressing off the bench.
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FC Barcelona
Ilkay Gundogan blames Barcelona teammate for early Champions League exit
Ilkay Gundogan has called out Ronald Araujo after he received a red card during Barcelona's clash with Paris Saint-Germain
The former Manchester City star believes his side 'gave away' a place in the tournament
Barcelona left the competition after losing 4-1 in the second leg
By Katie Catherall
Apr 17, 2024
Gundogan was left disappointed after Tuesday's loss
Gundogan was left disappointed after Tuesday's loss / Pedro Salado/GettyImages
Ilkay Gundogan admits he was left disappointed after Ronald Araujo's red card "killed" Barcelona's chances of progressing in the Champions League.
Barca were forced to accept an early exit from European football on Tuesday night after suffering a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final clash.
The Spanish side looked like favourites to progress, beating PSG in the first leg and being the first side to score at their home ground. However, an early red card awarded to Araujo shifted the game, and soon the La Liga side were struggling with ten men.
The German international has placed blame on Araujo, saying his sending off "gave away" a Champions League spot to PSG.
"I am disappointed," Gundogan began. "Very disappointed actually as we were in such a good position.
Kylian Mbappe, Ronald Araujo
Araujo received a red card against PSG / Pedro Salado/GettyImages
"Not just after the first leg, but after the first goal we scored. Everything was in our hands and we just gave it away in the most simple of manners. We just gave it to Paris Saint-Germain and that's the most disappointing part.
"If he fouled him, I guess it's a red card. I haven't seen the replay, I don't know. It's difficult to say. You know, in these kinds of crucial moments you need to be sure to get the ball. If you don't, and again I don't know if he touched the ball or not, you need to stay away.
"I would prefer to concede a goal there or give the striker 1v1. Although, the ball was played quite far ahead so I don't even know if he would have reached the ball. But, maybe let our goalkeeper save us or even concede a goal because to go a player down so early on just kills your game."
Araujo has already publicly thanked fans who stood by him after his red card, apologising for failing to help his side advance.
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