Francesco Totti believes Liverpool are ‘a model to follow’ for Roma but is not surprised by Mohamed Salah thriving under ‘one of the best’ Jurgen Klopp.
Totti was part of the Roma teams who were knocked out of the UEFA Cup and Champions League by Liverpool in both the 2000-01 and 01-02 campaigns, and the two sides lock horns again in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition.
Francesco Totti believes Liverpool are ‘a model to follow’ for Roma but is not surprised by Mohamed Salah thriving under ‘one of the best’ Jurgen Klopp.
Totti was part of the Roma teams who were knocked out of the UEFA Cup and Champions League by Liverpool in both the 2000-01 and 01-02 campaigns, and the two sides lock horns again in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition.
“When I hear the name Liverpool, [I think] respect, a big club, a big team, big fans, and a model to follow,” the No 10-turned-director told the Reds’ official website.
“Despite the negative result, I have nice memories of that game [at Anfield]. The atmosphere, the feeling, the passion of the fans – it was very impressive.
“Obviously, if I think back to that European Cup Final in 1984, it’s a bad memory, so we would have probably have avoided such a draw.
"But we needed to pick one of the best three teams in Europe that were left, and now we are playing Liverpool.
“Salah? This season I've seen a number of games of Liverpool, especially because Mo Salah is now playing there, I've been following [them] consistently.
“Especially after the draw, over the past few days I’ve been watching their Champions League games and I really think it’s going to be a tough game for both teams.
“To some extent, it surprises me that [Salah] has been doing so well in his first season at Liverpool.
“But, on the other hand, considering the quality of the squad, the Coach they have – Klopp, to me, is one of the best coaches in the world – it didn’t surprise me.
“They put him in the condition to express himself at his best.”