Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed Roma’s ‘outstanding’ comeback against Barcelona and asks ‘where would they be if Mohamed Salah was still there?’
Roma came back from 4-1 down against Barca to set up their semi-final with Liverpool, while Salah has gone on to score 39 goals for the Reds since leaving the Giallorossi last summer.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hailed Roma’s ‘outstanding’ comeback against Barcelona and asks ‘where would they be if Mohamed Salah was still there?’
Roma came back from 4-1 down against Barca to set up their semi-final with Liverpool, while Salah has gone on to score 39 goals for the Reds since leaving the Giallorossi last summer.
“Because I knew I’d have to say something after it, I tried to think about what I feel, but it was not that I thought ‘Thank God not Bayern, thank God not Real Madrid, yippee Roma’ or the other way around,” Klopp told his club’s official website.
“It is just the draw and I know it is very exciting, but it is good because the most important news is we are still in the competition.
“Whichever opponent we would have got, I would have said there is a chance because it is football – so there is a chance against Roma.
“But if anybody think this is the easiest draw then I cannot help this person; they obviously didn’t see both games against Barcelona.
“In the first result, the 4-1, it was not like the game was – it was Messi genius against a good side of Roma.
“The second leg was outstanding, it was outstanding what they did. They should have probably won four or five-nil – I was really impressed.
“It is work and no problem with that and now we are looking forward of course to the first game.
“I have never been to Rome before, not even as a tourist, so it will be completely new for me.
“I’ve played against Bayern a few times, obviously, and I’ve come up really often against Real Madrid.
“From an excitement point of view, it’s really cool because I’ve never played in Rome. It’s a beautiful city for sure, but we are not there for sightseeing.
“For sure it will be interesting for Mo [Salah], but that shows all the quality of Roma. Everybody knows how big Mo’s impact on our season has been – and they’ve played a season without him. Where would they be if Mo was still there?
“It makes it a really interesting thing and for him, it will be 100 percent special. He is already of interest wherever we go, but it might go crazy when we go to Rome! He can deal with that, I am sure.
“The teams are all too strong. The atmosphere is always important, of course. In our tie it was not too important, in Real Madrid – Juventus it wasn’t too important, but for Rome it obviously was important.
“I think they will think it is an advantage, but it all depends on the first result. Of course, whatever happens, as long as you are in the race there is always a chance wherever it is, so I am fine with it. You cannot change it. It didn’t create reaction at all.
“First leg at home, I am really looking forward to it because it will be a special atmosphere. It’ll be great.”