Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago rightly thinks Liverpool have a massive chance of winning the Champions League after we dumped his side out at the Last 16 stage.
We defeated the Germans 3-1 at the Allianz in what was arguably our most impressive performance of the season, following a 0-0 Anfield stalemate.
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‘Liverpool target’ refuses to rule out move away from UCL semi-finalists
Thiago, now in hindsight, reckons his side were very much second best, way too defensive and that we are ‘clear favourites’ along with Barcelona – our semi-final opponents.
“We lacked many things. Heart, courage, football,” he told Goal. “If you want to be successful against such an opponent, you have to focus more and give 100 per cent.
“I did not like our performance in the first leg. It is very difficult to play at Anfield, but we were too defensive.
“Sure, you get a 0-0, you defend well but nothing happened in front of the opponent’s goal. We did not play well in both legs.
“With Manchester City eliminated, Barca and Liverpool are the clear favourites for me. I personally like Ajax very much. They play an impressive offensive football.”
The tie against Barca next term is a mouthwatering one.
It’ll be a chance to see the likes of Lionel Messi face Virgil van Dijk; Mo Salah cutting in on Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique and Jordan Henderson snapping at the heels of Sergio Busquets.
Away from home, we need to keep Messi as quiet as possible, of course. Without him, we’d say the sides are fairly even on paper – but the greatest player ever to grace a football field makes the Catalan giants favourites.
But Jurgen Klopp has never lost a two-legged European tie with Liverpool.
Bring it on!