Kostas Manolas sealed Roma’s epic comeback against Barcelona and now has his sights on Liverpool. “Nothing is impossible if we believe.”
The first leg of the Champions League semi-final kicks off at Anfield tonight at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
Kostas Manolas sealed Roma’s epic comeback against Barcelona and now has his sights on Liverpool. “Nothing is impossible if we believe.”
The first leg of the Champions League semi-final kicks off at Anfield tonight at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
It was the centre-back’s glancing header that secured a 3-0 victory in the quarter-final, overturning the 4-1 first leg defeat at Camp Nou.
“Obviously, I felt great joy, but the most important thing remains qualifying for the semi-final. In this last month of the season, we must give our best to ensure we finish top four in Serie A and reach the Champions League Final,” Manolas told uefa.com.
“The Stadio Olimpico was packed that night, our fans pushed us on and fired us up. As I said before, if the fans encourage the team, everything becomes easier. I hope they’ll always be by our side.
“The thing that makes Roma special is the love of the people for the team. I’d never seen anything like it. The fans are so passionate. I’m very happy to be here and will continue to give my all.”
Liverpool also have a notoriously fiery fanbase and they’ll be in fine song at Anfield this evening.
“Liverpool are a great team who play attacking football, have quick players and fight from the first minute to the last. As I said, it’ll be a very difficult match, but it was against Barcelona too. Nothing is impossible if we believe.”
Manolas will have to defend against his former teammate Mohamed Salah, who has scored 41 competitive goals for Liverpool this season.
“He’s a great player and a good friend, we often speak on the phone. I congratulate him for what he’s done this season, but I and my teammates will give our all to stop him and the other Liverpool players.
“It doesn’t happen every day, being in a Champions League semi-final, so we won’t lack for concentration.”