Klopp disappointed after Madrid game: "We didn't show a special performance"

Liverpool visited the Santiago Bernabeu stadium to face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The Reds had to come from behind by scoring three goals but their efforts were not enough as they were eliminated from the competition.

Jurgen Klopp was not satisfied with the performances of his players and spoke of his disappointment at the post-match press conference: "We came here with the backpack we had with the three goals difference. You need a special performance and we didn't show a special performance tonight.

"It was, in moments, a good performance, but Real Madrid was, for the whole game, the team in control of the game. They had the better chances, Ali had to make two sensational saves to keep us in the game and that's the reason. Again, if you want to go through you need to be outstanding. In the end, Madrid were the better team and that's why the right team went through to the next round," he added.

The German coach was asked about his next targets after the elimination: "Our job is to squeeze absolutely everything out of this season what is possible. It's a strange one. Our recent two games, obviously a sensational performance against Manchester United, which is a real good football team. And then a really bad performance against Bournemouth, which is a good football team as well, but we should not lose this kind of game.

"It put us then under more pressure. If we could have three points then I think everybody really could have felt, or smell our breath, if you want. There is again distance because other teams won their games... it is clear, we want to be top four, but if we can do that, we will decide on the pitch [and] not here in the press conference," he concluded.

 

March 15, 2023