JURGEN KLOPP admitted he thought he was being told a joke when Roma’s incredible Champions League comeback was revealed to him.
The Serie A club overturned a 4-1 first-leg result as goals from Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas secured a 3-0 win over Barcelona.
Their away goal meant they went through to the competition’s semi-finals for the first time since 1984 and Liverpool boss Klopp could not believe what had happened at the Stadio Olympico.
Klopp — who saw his team run out 5-1 aggregate winners in their quarter-final against Manchester City — said: “I walked up the stairs and someone told me. I thought it was a joke.
“Not that I don’t respect Roma, they are fantastic team. I just wasn’t expecting it, but knew it was possible.
“They lost Mo Salah and they are in the semis – it’s a big thing!”
Most read in football
Mo Salah was on the scoresheet for the Reds and could now end up facing his former club in the next round.
Klopp admitted his sides’ performance was less than perfect as they survived a first-half onslaught from City to win 2-1 on the night.
He added: said: “The Champions League is not about perfection — it’s about the result, character, mentality and attitude. We created that and fought for the result. I love that.
GREEK GOD IN ROME Roma 3 Barcelona 0 (agg 4-4): Manolas scores winner to complete incredible comeback and KO Barca
“It was not our best game but deserved at the end. There were plenty of things that we could have done better. We needed to start new.
“We used the momentum for us and we knew for City if we scored one goal then the atmosphere is pretty different. Now we are in the semis.”
Leave a comment