Liverpool FC exited the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16, after losing a penalty shootout to Paris Saint-Germain 4-1. The Parisians scored in the 12th minute, and the Reds had plenty of time and chances to score, but the aggregate tie lasted until extra time was over.
After the game, head coach Arne Slot remarked upon the quality of the game:
“It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in.”
“It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. Maybe we ran out of luck because the margins were so small.”
“We played the perfect game, except for scoring a goal. It was similar to Paris last week, when they played the perfect game and didn’t score. And then they were maybe a bit better in extra time.”
Captain Virgil van Dijk concurred with the sentiment:
“We were pretty good and you want to go as far as possible, but we knew when we drew Paris that it was going to be very difficult.”
“In Paris, we struggled but we won. Today we saw a very good Liverpool side, but we’re out of the competition.”
Fine margins and all that, but that’s the price that comes with chasing success. Sometimes, you lose. The encouraging thing is how much success Slot has been able to have with this team, and how much better this team could potentially become if he continues to shape it in his image. PSG were the better team over the two legs, and it’s hard to feel bitter over the outcome, even if Liverpool played better in the second leg. This defeat leaves Liverpool with two more trophies to play for. With one hand already on the Premier League trophy, the Reds will have to go all out for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.