Jurgen Klopp has ‘mixed emotions’ after Liverpool went out of the Europa League quarter-final to Atalanta, 3-1 on aggregate, as he acknowledged ‘they deserve to go through.’
The Reds had given themselves a mountain to climb after losing the first leg 3-0 at Anfield to a Gianluca Scamacca brace and Mario Pasalic goal.
They had the ideal start at the Gewiss Stadium when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty after just seven minutes, but La Dea held out well and even tested Alisson Becker several times.
“It was clear we gave ourselves a massive hurdle. I liked the game a lot tonight with the desire and power the boys showed. It was incredible from them,” Klopp told TNT Sports.
“It was really tricky and we were too hasty in moments. If Trent Alexander-Arnold had been a bit fitter we could have gone a bit longer, but it is insane that he has even played! In the end he was running out of gas.
“We won the game and that was the reaction we wanted to show. It was difficult and we knew it would be, but they deserve to go through 100%.”
There were fireworks at the final whistle over the stadium and Klopp seemed genuinely pleased for the locals and congratulated Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Liverpool are out of the #UEL!
They win 1-0 on the night but Atalanta take the tie 3-1 overall! 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/O4aHkMdWcg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2024
Curiously, this confirms the trend that Atalanta won both trips to Anfield and Liverpool won both fixtures away to La Dea.
“We have to focus on the league and that is exactly what we will do from now. Tonight we won the game, so we are back to winning ways. We have a few days to recover to go again against Fulham. That will be a different game but it will be tricky.”
This is Klopp’s farewell season at Liverpool and he was hoping to finish on a high with a trophy, but it will not be the Europa League.
“It is mixed emotions. We are out but I am happy with the game. We would have wished that we could have gone to Dublin but that hasn’t happened. We now have one competition left and we will throw ourselves into that completely.”
Atalanta go through and will face Olympique Marseille in the semi-finals, as the French side beat Benfica on penalties.
"It didn't go our way but I liked the way we played"
Jurgen Klopp gives his assessment on Liverpool's #UEL quarter-final second leg with Atalanta…
🎙️ @DannyJamieson | #UEL pic.twitter.com/QMsySlZhnH
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 18, 2024