Liverpool seems to have lost its ground in FA Cup as well that is why they failed to impress anyone in the Thursday’s Europa League semifinal first leg at Villarreal. Although, margin of defeat was just 1-0 but it was more a psychological loss than the in-field disappointment and manager Jurgen Klopp accepts that his team played rather immaturely, although, excused their experience for all the nasty mistakes they did. However, first half was a tight finish when both the sides struggled to score the net and it was the second half when Villarreal’s Cedric Bakambu could score the winner for his side. Moreover, one goal first leg advantage would help Spanish club prepares better for the return leg to be played at Anfield next week and looking at their last night show, it is highly unlikely they would change current winning combination. Anyways, without being critical to his own team, Klopp issued his gross satisfaction over the show despite the fact that Reds missed several opportunities in the second half.
The 48-year-Old German said in the post-match news conference, “I am pleased with the performance, we did very good today. Everybody knew nothing about Villarreal will know more. They are a good side, but we are too. We controlled most of the game, which is not too usual here, then a 92nd-minute counter-attack does not sound too good. That should not happen, but we had a great moment with Alberto Christian header, and the youth came through. Until then it was a really professional performance. It is the first leg — my first thinking when they were all celebrating the goal around me was sorry but it is not over yet, you have to come to Anfield and we will be ready.”
Adding about his strategy for the second leg and how he would shred off the shortcomings by next week, Klopp said, “I am no more or less confident than before the game. I have no more information now. Now we have to find solutions for a few things, but we are on a good way and I saw a lot of things that show that we can do it. It does not mean that we will, but with the help of Anfield we can. Please do not compare everything with Dortmund, but things are possible — 1-0 is not the biggest result in the world. Before we were an English team, a big name, no quality, now they know we have a little bit of quality.”