Klopp ‘does not doubt players’ mentality’ after Sevilla draw
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he has no problem with the mentality of his players after Sevilla fought back from 3-0 down at halftime to take a point from a dramatic Champions League game.
The Reds looked to be coasting into the knockout stage for the first time since 2009 as two goals from Roberto Firmino and one from Sadio Mane put them in total control, BBC reported.
Yet after Alberto Moreno needlessly conceded a free-kick against his former club, Wissam Ben Yedder’s header made it 3-1.
Moreno then conceded a penalty by clipping Ben Yedder, and the French striker scored after being ordered to retake a successful spot-kick because of encroachment.
Guido Pizarro poked home in the third minute of added time as the hosts snatched a draw. Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo criticized the media, complaining that his words are misconstrued, and refused to give an interview after his side’s 6-0 win over APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League.
Ronaldo had been involved in a public row with Real captain Sergio
“I don’t doubt the mentality of the boys, not a bit,” said Klopp, whose side must avoid defeat when it hosts Spartak Moscow on December 6 to ensure Reds advance from Group E.
“We showed already a fantastic mentality. We showed it in a lot of other games. It’s not like this.
“Yes, it was not perfect, that’s true, but it’s not a general problem.
“Could we have done better? 100 percent. Do I think it’s a mentality problem? 100 percent not. It’s a misjudgment.”
Halftime shock
Sevilla confirmed its head coach has been diagnosed with cancer after the draw against Liverpool.
Spanish media said Eduardo Berizzo, who is suffering with prostate cancer, told his players at halftime in Ramos at the start of November over the state of the squad, Eurosport reported.
Walking through the mixed zone after Tuesday night’s win, Ronaldo did not stop to speak to the press, saying, “I’m not talking, as when I talk I’m not understood.
“And then you [media] talk about Tuesday’s game at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Sevilla’s players rushed to Berizzo after Pizarro scored an injury-time equalizer.
A club statement wished the 48-year-old Argentine a “speedy recovery”.
It added, “The medical services of Sevilla FC report that the coach of the first team, Eduardo Berizzo, has been diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma [malignant tumor] of the prostate.
“The future examinations will allow us to decide which are the steps to follow regarding the treatment.”
Berizzo was appointed head coach in the summer on a two-year deal, following a three-year stint at Celta Vigo.
“We had to come out with a different attitude for the fans and for the boss, he made us play like that,” said Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega.
The IOC added it had disqualified the athletes from Sochi, effectively stripping Tretyakov and Nikitina of their Olympic medals. Orlova and Potylitsyna did not win medals in Sochi. The IOC did not disclose the nature of the doping violations.
Earlier this month, the IOC banned six cross-country skiers from the Olympics for violating anti-doping rules as part of an investigation into allegations of widespread doping among Russians and sample tampering by laboratory and security officials at the Sochi Games.
The IOC has been retesting all Russian athletes’ samples from the 2014 Games following revelations by Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Moscow’s suspended anti-doping laboratory, of a scheme to cover up home competitors’ positive samples.
The IOC is set to decide next month on the participation of Russian competitors at the Pyeongchang winter Olympics in South Korea in February. something I did not say.”
Ronaldo scored twice against APOEL, with another two coming from under-fire Karim Benzema, and a goal each from Luka Modric and Nacho.
The result secured Real’s second place spot in its Champions League group, behind Tottenham Hotspur.