Liverpool to face Real Madrid In #ChampionsLeague Final
The two sides’ semi-final victories over AS Roma and Bayern Munich respectively have set up a repeat of the 1981 European showpiece, when the Reds defeated the Spanish giants 1-0 in Paris.
Despite a 4-2 defeat against AS Roma on Wednesday night, May 2, which confirmed a 7-6 collectively, the Jürgen Klopp’s tutored side sealed their place in the final for the eighth time.
Real Madrid, winners of the Champions League in the previous two seasons and three of the last four, qualified after a 2-2 draw at home to Bayern was enough for a 4-3 victory over two legs.
Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp said: “The game was wild. They took all the risks and we punished it with the counter-attack but then we gave away a goal.
“It was the first semi-final for most of the boys so normal to have to keep nerves in. It was a little bit exciting – more exciting than I actually wanted”, he added.
“We are deserved finalists 100%. You don’t come without luck. We needed it only one time tonight. Real Madrid needed luck yesterday too. That’s how it is.
“We have two very important Premier League games then let’s go there [the final] and try our best.
On his poor finals record: “We should start winning but I know that. Everyone will remind me now from now on that I have lost the last five finals but we will try and go there again”, Klopp said.
Though Klopp said the Reds are “deserved finalists 100%”, on the other hand, Roma president Jim Pallotta believes it will be an “absolute joke” if the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is not introduced into the Champions League.
“You can all look at it yourself. Stephan El Shaarawy in the 49th minute wasn’t offside and he gets taken down by the goalie; the 63rd minute was a handball that was obvious to everyone probably in the world except people on the pitch; the 67th minute Schick gets taken down in the box.
“I know it is difficult to ref but it is really embarrassing that we lose on aggregate like that.
“By the way, it should have been a red card which would have been 10 men in the 63rd minute.
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