Andy Robertson revealed the message Jurgen Klopp gave Liverpool’s squad on the morning of their 4-0 Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona in 2019.
The Reds faced a seemingly impossible task after losing 3-0 in the first leg at Camp Nou. On 7 May 2019, Anfield witnessed one of the most remarkable nights in football when Liverpool overturned that deficit to reach the final. Robertson described Klopp’s words as a decisive moment in setting the tone before kickoff.
“He said: ‘Tonight nobody gives us a chance. No normal person would give us a chance, but because you’re sitting in front of me, I give you every chance in the world and I’m telling you this will be one of the most special nights of your life,’” Robertson recalled during an episode of Stick to Football.
The Liverpool dressing room had never been louder or more focused, according to the Scottish left-back. The players felt something special was possible before the game, a belief that grew even stronger after Divock Origi’s early goal. Robertson said, “We made a really good team crumble, effectively.”
Klopp’s message came just 24 hours after Vincent Kompany’s late winner for Manchester City against Leicester City ended Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Premier League that season. Despite that blow, Klopp managed to instil belief and focus in his players ahead of the daunting task against a Barcelona side featuring Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The Anfield atmosphere that night was electric. The fans’ energy lifted the team, who had suffered heartbreak in the previous season’s Champions League final and narrowly missed out on the Premier League title race. The victory over Barcelona became a catalyst for Liverpool’s subsequent success, culminating in their triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 Champions League final.
Robertson’s account sheds light on Klopp’s motivational skills and the trust he placed in his squad at a defining moment. The 7 May 2019 match remains one of Liverpool’s most celebrated European nights, with fans and players alike cherishing the memory decades later.
According to Yahoo Sports.
