Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reacted after a humiliating defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16’s first leg.
Despite falling two goals behind in the opening 14 minutes, Carlo Ancelotti´s side came back to thrash the hosts and record a spectacular 5-2 victory.
“Conceding five in a home game in the Champions League is absolutely not acceptable, I know that, but it happened anyway so we cannot change that anymore. The way we conceded the goals, we can change. Not for that game but in general – and we have to. But the start in the game was a good one anyway, it was good. It was not only 20 minutes; I know after then we conceded but the first half was a really good half, could have scored another goal, maybe should have scored in that situation. And then the second half had the worst start for us,” said Klopp.
“What I saw in this game is that yes, a lot of things are back, but not stable yet. That’s pretty much what you can make of it. That’s why we then conceded the goals, you are 3-2 down and it is clear, you want a result for the next game and when you lose 3-2 it is not a perfect result but it is much better than 5-2.
“So yeah, it was a night which was not really helpful but still we have to work with it, that’s what we did and now we are here and prepared two days already and today again the game against Crystal Palace and hopefully we can learn the right things, use the right things and get some points.”
Madrid won a record 14th European Cup last season by beating Jurgen Klopp´s team 1-0 in the Paris final, but along the way they produced remarkable comebacks in topsy-turvy games against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Their performance on Merseyside was in this vein, with a sloppy start in defence covered up by an attacking onslaught in a chaotic and unforgettable clash.
The second leg of the clash between the two sides will take place on March 16 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.