Liverpool, England-Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, described the return match of the Champions League of his team with Paris Saint-Germain as the “best football match” in which he was involved, despite the end of the penalties competition.
Liverpool won the first stage of the 1-0 draw thanks to a late goal from Harvey Elliott in Paris but lost in Anfield after Ousmane Dembélé I found the back of the net to draw the PSG level on the aggregates.
The French champions then triumphed during the shooting, with Gianluigi Donnarumma saving from both Darwin Núñez And Curtis Jones Before Desired hammered the winning penalty.
“It was the best football match in which I was involved,” said Slot to journalists after the match. “I don’t have the story that Liverpool has as a manager, but it was two teams on an incredible level. It was an incredible intensity in the first 25 minutes.
“I also remember the first 25 against Manchester City at home and the first 25 against Real Madrid, but it was incredible, which we showed in the first 25. But I looked at the dashboard and we were 1-0.
“More than 90 minutes, I don’t think we deserve to lose this football match. More than 180 minutes, it may be deserved that we were going to more time. In addition to time, I thought PSG was perhaps a little better than us, then it comes back to the penalties and that we lost.”
Liverpool finished at the top of the Champions League phase, winning seven of the eight games, and has also lost only once in the Premier League this season to increase 15 points at the top of the table.
And slot, during his first season in Anfield, tried to remain positive.
“Of course, it’s a shock and it may not be the time to say it (the players) now, but last season, we were not involved in the Champions League, the season before going out 5-2 against Real Madrid at home. So, if you have to get out, then get out of it in a way that we have done against one of the best teams in Europe, making such a fight.
“For us, it is so unlucky that if you are n ° 1 in the table (league phase) that you then face PSG which is one of the best teams in Europe, but it is the format in which we are. We must accept it and we will come back stronger next season.”
Liverpool must now regroup before the final of the Carabao Cup this weekend against Newcastle United. However, Slot could be without several key players for the trip to Wembley, with both Trent Alexander-Arnold And Ibrahima Konaté Having been forced Tuesday evening.
“I had to ask but Ibou was more than tired that it was an injury,” said Slot. “With Trent, he had to detach himself. It was never a good sign and what I heard from people who saw the images, who did not seem very good, so I will be surprised if it is available for Sunday.
“The right thing is that we play a final on Sunday, so mentally, it’s the best you can ask, because that’s why you play football to play in the final.”
