"You'll Never Walk Alone." This Wednesday evening, the Liverpool players will not walk alone. The air of song as famous as its stadium will resound in the spans of Anfield, bursting at the seams when the cameras fall in big drops everywhere in football Europe. Surely, the Reds will need it to overthrow Atlético Madrid. Beaten 1-0 in Spain three weeks ago, Liverpool are in an uncomfortable position when it comes to playing their quarterfinal spot. An elimination in the round of 16 against a formerly more formidable Atlético was not the idea of departure.
Ticket office closed
The official website of the club recalled this Wednesday, Anfield will be full for this European meeting. Remove all surprise, the stadium was already full last Saturday on the occasion of a meeting of much less importance (2-1 victory over Bournemouth), the presence of 54,000 supporters this Wednesday evening is all the more luck for them in the current anxiety-provoking context. Some 800 kilometers away, PSG will host Dortmund in an empty stadium, for both supporters and journalists.
The image of Jürgen Klopp, fist raised in front of the "Kop" Saturday after the victory against the Cherries, spoke volumes. In addition to the obvious satisfaction with the interruption of a negative spiral unknown until then this season, the rage of the German technician reflected the increase in pressure at the edge of a week which could prove decisive between the pursuit a “back-to-back” in Europe and a title of champion whose formalization is becoming clearer. “As always, the message to players and the public is similar. Be yourself, believe it, enjoy the moment and give the best. ", Hammered Jürgen Klopp in a press conference before the match on Tuesday, anxious to associate players and supporters, a bond that he knew how to tame before shaping since his arrival on the banks of the Mersey five years ago.
Things you love to see ✊ pic.twitter.com/MicvKjWu9y
- Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2020"We will never take Anfield for granted"
The importance of fans and the Kop is no longer to be demonstrated in Liverpool. History attests to this. The “Ascension” against Barça still in everyone's mind, Liverpool has been walking on the water for two seasons, the impregnable Anfield has its share of merit. “In the stands as in the field, we have to be fully at all times. That's how you make the moment so special. ” Inspiring, Jürgen Klopp. Same story with left-back Andrew Robertson, who talks about "Anfield factor" and remembers the fond memory of Barcelona. “We need everyone to find the atmosphere of the match against Barcelona, the fans were exceptional that evening. We still need them, ”said the Scot on the eve of the match.
On his birthday, the Scouser nevertheless knows that he will be dealing with a radically different team from Barça: "I think the two teams are very different." Because if Atlético is no longer the team that has risen twice in the final of the most prestigious of competitions, the Colchoneros have kept their coach and de facto their philosophy. A new battle of Anfield awaits the Reds. The former Dortmund coach knows: “The atmosphere will not be enough. We will have to make a huge match. ” For this match, the German will be able to count on the return of another determining factor, that of his captain Jordan Henderson. Formerly underestimated, its impact on the environment is now unanimously recognized. His absence since the first leg, coinciding with an air gap in the results, confirmed it. In the stands on Saturday, the "skipper" swapped his dressing room leader costume for that of the stands to galvanize the troops at a time of the greatest importance. Now it's up to him and his players to respond: "As soon as we think it will all ignite just because it's Liverpool and it's the European Cup, it won't happen not. None of us take it all for granted. We know that for something magical to happen, we will have to fight hard to make it happen. ” Anyway, Anfield should answer the call. European champions as well as their supporters would have the good idea to take advantage of it. The stadium doors should also close soon across the Channel.
Read also
- PSG-Dortmund: why the mind is the keystone of Parisian survival
- Paris SG-Dortmund: behind closed doors of all dangers
- In camera, scenarios, Mbappé… Five questions before PSG-Dortmund