Liverpool Boss Disappointed by Team’s Performance in Atalanta Defeat
Jurgen Klopp didn’t hold back in criticizing Liverpool’s display in their damaging 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday.
At Anfield, the Bergamo-based club found the net three times, with former West Ham United forward Gianluca Scamacca scoring twice and Mario Pasalic adding an 83rd-minute goal to seal the Reds’ fate in the match and potentially in the tie.
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Klopp expressed his disappointment with his team’s collapse and their lapses in possession at Merseyside as Gian Piero Gasperini’s side thwarted the German manager’s plans.
“It was just a really bad game, oh my God,” Klopp lamented. “We started really well, but we didn’t continue. We just lost the plot a bit. We were everywhere and nowhere. The midfield was spread out. I didn’t recognize us. It was really strange. In football terms, that’s tactical discipline.
“I cannot remember a situation where they outplayed us, but they won the ball and went from there. You need a lot of tactical discipline to do what they did. They employed man-marking all over the pitch. Man-marking is uncomfortable when you are not on top of your game.
“If you are in a better playing mood than we were tonight then you can cause massive problems. We suffered from the way they defended.
“We deserved to lose and we must feel that now. The boys have this night to feel bad about it. Then we have to build up again for Crystal Palace (in the Premier League on Sunday). Congratulations Atalanta, really well done.”
With Klopp set to depart at the end of the season, Europa League elimination leaves Liverpool focusing solely on the Premier League, aiming to secure their second top-flight title alongside this year’s EFL Cup success over Chelsea.
Next up for the Reds is a clash against Crystal Palace on April 14 before the reverse fixture against Atalanta at Gewiss Stadium next week.