Liverpool’s results this season look like a big lottery, with no continuity from game to game. The Reds are capable of signing a historic success against rival Manchester United (7-0), then losing to a relegated side a week later (1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday). Defeated 5-2 at Anfield in their Champions League round of 16 first leg against Real Madrid, the English will have a lot to do to qualify. But, with Jürgen Klopp’s team, all surprises are allowed during the return match, Wednesday at 9 p.m. (broadcast on Canal + and RMC Sport).
At a press conference on Tuesday, the German coach did not hide the difficulty of the task. But he believes in his training. “If there is only a 1% chance, we will try. We face a strong opponent and we will try to win. It’s possible. That’s what we’re here for, we’ll see where it leads. »
To do this, Jürgen Klopp announced that he wanted to draw inspiration from the first leg. A game during which Liverpool led 2-0, before being completely overthrown by Real Madrid. “We want to do what we did in the first half but without the goals we conceded. »
The Reds coach also spoke of the mental strength of the Spaniards, capable of overturning any situation. “They don’t lose conviction or confidence, that’s a huge skill for a team. Nothing can really excite them negatively. It is absolutely admirable. »
“Real detects the smell of blood”
Words that resonate with those of Scousers midfielder Fabinho. “I think we played well but Real is a club that detects the smell of blood and if you give them the opportunity, they hurt you,” admitted the Brazilian. There will be times tomorrow when we will be exposed because we need to score three or four goals. We will have to have a maximum level of concentration. “The midfielder is also wary of his compatriot Vinicius Jr, author of a double in the first leg: “The first goal, he invented it on his own. Stopping him will be a challenge. »
For their part, the people of Madrid are more used to being hunters than hunters in the Champions League. Last season, they won the competition after going through several crazy scenarios. But the reigning Spanish champion approaches this meeting calmly. Like his trainer, Carlo Ancelotti. “It’s quite clear, quite simple. We must try to play as well as possible, to set up the match in the same way as the first leg. »
The Italian coach has also promised to approach the meeting without “making calculations” and with the desire to win. “It will be a fairly open game, I think, because Liverpool will try to change the dynamic, and we will play our football, attacking football. »
The Casa Blanca coach has also confirmed Karim Benzema’s return to the squad. “I feel good about it. Tomorrow (Wednesday), it will be 100%. He is thoroughly, over-motivated. For Karim, for the club, it’s a very important competition. The French striker was absent during his team’s victory against Espanyol on Saturday (3-1) due to ankle pain.
Naples for history
In the other meeting of this Wednesday evening, Naples receives Frankfurt (Wednesday at 9 p.m., broadcast on BeIN Sports 1). In the first leg, the Italians won without shaking thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo (2-0). The French player Randal Kolo Muani had also been expelled from the German side.
But the Neapolitan coach, Luciano Spalletti, remains on his guard. “It would be terribly presumptuous of us to assume that we are already in the next round, that is not how we do it. Remember that Eintracht went through a group that included Tottenham, Marseille and Sporting. »
Leader of its championship with an 18-point lead, Naples is having a historic season and wants to enhance it with a fine European run. “You can compare it (the game against Frankfurt) to the first season finale. It could decide a lot for the team and put us in the history of this club,” added Luciano Spalletti.