GLOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
How do you turn Champions League heartbreak into triumph?
Alisson’s brilliance makes Reds fans forget all about Karius in Kiev
LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Alisson is the difference between Champions League triumph and tragedy – and that is why he is worth a world-record fee.
That is the passionate belief of Anfield goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, who has played a key role in helping the Brazilian settle so quickly in English football and deliver on his amazing talent.
In last year’s final at the biggest moments of the game, Loris Karius was cruelly found out and gifted Real Madrid victory. But this time around, Alisson stood firm under a late barrage from Spurs.
According to Achterberg, it’s because the £65million keeper has something you simply cannot teach.
He said: “He is worth the money we paid for him.
“Decision-making you cannot teach, but also staying calm under high pressure, it is natural.
“You can prepare what is going to happen in a game, but decisionmaking – when to come, when to stay, when to be calm and when to play – that all stems from him.” Manager Jurgen Klopp agreed to pay the-then world record fee for a keeper to Roma, when he realised that Karius had been scarred by his final experience.
For Achterberg, that is the cruel beauty of football – going from misery to glory in two very different displays from two different goalkeepers.
“It’s tough for the one and great for the other,” he said.
“Even for the boss, it is unbelievable. He won the trophy when he has been close so many times. It is a big relief for everyone in the whole club to win a trophy again and it is deserved.”
What Alisson brings, the coach insists, is not only that natural talent, but also an incredible desire to learn and work – and that will see him become even better.
“It is unbelievable the way he stays calm in the difficult situations and the saves he makes, he takes the team through the pressure moments,” said Achterberg.
“He has done it in a few games: Napoli to get to the knockout round, Barcelona to get to the final. He wants to work hard as well and you need to find the balance between the games to find the right intensity.
“There are always things he can improve but the level he has produced this season is probably one of the best in the world.
“He needs to keep driving this to make sure he gets the recognition from everyone.
“And he has had an amazing season to break the record for clean sheets.”