We are here to fight for our dreams says Klopp as Reds look to final step
● Anfield boss admits shock Barca exit at Roma has served as warning
ROMA (2) V LIVERPOOL (5)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists his side will “fight for their dreams” in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma.
The Reds hold a 5-2 lead from last week’s match at Anfield and while Klopp admits it is not impossible for their Serie A opponents to win 3-0 – as they did in the last round when they knocked out Barcelona – heinsistsit wouldbe“quitedifficult”.
“I am not here to say anything about Barcelona. They have not done a lot wrong in the last few years,” said Klopp when asked what mistakes the Catalans had made having brought a 4-1 lead to the Stadio Olimpico.
“Barcelona probably thought it was decided. I didn’t need a warning, but, if a warning was needed, it was a warning. But the closer the game comes Roma will realise they still have to score three.
“It didn’t happen too often this season against us. I’m not saying it is impossible, but it is quite difficult.
“We are here to fight for our dreams, that is how it is, and we want to go to the final.”
It was pointed out to Klopp that both Chelsea and Barcelona had conceded three goals in the Stadio Olimpico.
“We are not Chelsea, We are not Barcelona. We won 7-0 against Spartak Moscow at
0 Jurgen Klopp: Good position. Anfield. What does that say? Nothing,” added the German, who refused to answer questions about the absence of his trusted assistant, Zeljko Buvac, who went on leave for the rest of the season for “personal reasons” just days before this tie.
“I don’t think we are through, but I don’t think we are in a bad situation. We are in a better situation than I thought we would be before the tie,” added Klopp, who has no intention of setting up his side to draw tonight. Klopp hopes Liverpool will be able to capitalise on Roma’s need to get at least three goals by scoring the away goal which will effectively end the tie. “Do not forget we are really difficult to play against,” he said.
Much of the build-up to the game has surrounded the safety of fans in the Italian capital after 53-year-old Sean Cox was left in a critical condition after being attacked by Roma fans outside Anfield last week.
The Serie A club have done all they can to distance themselves from those involved, with their president publicly criticising them, while the hand of friendship has been extended over the last week with players pictured on Thursday training in shirts with the words “Forza Sean” on them.
“Great, great, great gesture. I already thought they showed a great gesture before training at Anfield at the memorial for the 96,” said Klopp, referencing Roma’s laying a wreath in memory of the Hillsborough victims a week ago. It is a really nice thing and in these moments at least football fans should stay together and show this kind of respect.”
Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco admits he is looking for a miracle. Having stunned Barcelona, Di Francesco hopes lightning strikes twice as they try to overcome a 5-2 deficit.
“I would do a copy and paste of the Barca game,” he said. “It is in the mind of the players. In order to compete against a rival such as Liverpool, we need to raise the bar in terms of physical effort, then comes the attitude, approach to the game and trying to score an early goal to have the fans behind us even more.
“It won’t be easy, but it is our duty to believe it. Thanks to the passion of our fans, we have our fans behind us, so we all have the desire to complete one more miracle, if I may use the word.” Stirling Albion manager Dave Mackay is delighted that the league season is over as he reckons that hosting Peterhead in the play-offs will spark his men back to life.
His side have not won for eight games but Mackay reckons that will count for little in their League 1 semifinal first-leg meeting at Forthbank this evening.
He said: “We have to forget about that run as it is about this one now. Hopefully we can show what we are capable of in these two ties.”
Mackay, below, reckons that his men are the clear underdogs. He said: “Peterhead finished on seventy six points which is usually enough to win the league.
“That is twenty one points more than we achieved and they have won the last three games between us so that makes them the favourites.”
Peterhead manager Jim Mcinally said: “We had a really good season but [champions] Montrose had one that was just that bit better.”
“The positive for us now is that our destiny is in our own hands.
“For the past couple of months we have been looking for a favour from someone against Montrose. Now what happens is up to us – starting at Stirling.”