Arne Slot Reflects on “Unlucky” Exit as Reds Shift Focus to Domestic Challenges
Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League journey came to a crushing end on Tuesday night as they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in a dramatic penalty shootout at Anfield. After a hard-fought 1-0 defeat in regulation time left the aggregate score tied at 1-1, the match went into extra time and eventually penalties, where PSG held their nerve to win 4-1 and book their place in the quarter-finals.
The tie, which pitted two of Europe’s in-form teams against each other, lived up to its billing as a thrilling contest. Both Liverpool and PSG, who currently lead their respective domestic leagues, delivered moments of brilliance across the two legs. However, it was the French side who emerged victorious, setting up a quarter-final clash with the winner of Aston Villa versus Club Brugge.
Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his team’s performance but admitted they may have “run out of luck” after a narrow victory in the first leg. “It was the best game of football I was ever involved in,” Slot said. “Incredible performance, especially compared to last week. We created chances, but we were 1-0 down. Maybe we ran out of luck after last week.”
Slot expressed his belief that Liverpool deserved more from the game, particularly after dominating large periods of play. “For me, it felt like we deserved more than being 1-0 down. We played the perfect game except for scoring a goal. It was similar to PSG last week, where they played the perfect game. In extra time, they were maybe a little bit better,” he added.
The Liverpool boss also reflected on the challenging nature of the draw, noting that topping their group had led to an early knockout-stage clash with one of the tournament’s strongest teams. “It feels unfair that we topped the table and then faced such a strong team as PSG,” Slot said. “We now have a League Cup final and nine Premier League games to go.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk echoed his manager’s sentiments, expressing pride in the team’s improved performance compared to the first leg in Paris. “It was a totally different Liverpool to what we showed in Paris,” Van Dijk said. “I think even in the first half, we created dangerous moments. But it came down to penalties. We were pretty good today. You want to go as far as possible.”
Despite the disappointment, Van Dijk emphasized the need to regroup quickly, with a League Cup final against Newcastle on the horizon. “The focus will now be on recovery,” he said. “Because everyone has to be at their very best against Newcastle. I am looking forward to it.”
As Liverpool turn their attention to domestic competitions, the Anfield faithful will hope their team can channel the frustration of this Champions League exit into a strong finish to the season. For now, though, the pain of penalty heartbreak will linger.
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