Post-Match Quotes: Klopp admits Atalanta were the better side

LFC - Back On Our Perch rounds up the best post-match quotes, after Liverpool crashed out of the Europa League at the Qurter-Final stage, with a 3 - 1 aggregate loss to Atalanta.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side had been second best to Atalanta across both legs of their Europa League Quater-Final, after watching the Red's European dreams end on a disappointing night in Italy.

Despite a dream start, that saw Liverpool score an early penalty, to give them hope of overturning the 3 - 0 defeat at Anfield, Klopp's side ran out of energy and ideas in the second half, as the strain of a difficult season appears to be taking its toll on both the players and Manager.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the match, Klopp admitted his team did not deserve to progress,

"That is why we have to – and it’s very easy to – congratulate Atalanta because they deserved to go through. When you win a tie against us 3-1, especially in this way, you deserve to go through, absolutely."

Klopp also spoke about focusing all the team's energy on their remaining Premier League games,

"Disappointed that we did not go through but not frustrated or angry or something like that. Now we can focus on the league and that’s what we will do. We have a few days to recover, we will do that, and then will travel the day after tomorrow to London and will play Fulham, which will be tricky but we will give our absolute all. That’s our competition now. I saw a good reaction from my side, we had not a great week last week obviously. This, if we want, was the start for the rest of the season with a good result and a good performance and that’s how we see it."

When asked about Mo Salah, and the Egyptian's poor form since returning from injury, Klopp said he was not worried,

"I am not particularly concerned. That’s what strikers do, that’s what happens to strikers, that’s how it is. We have to go through this, he has to go through that. He is one of the most experienced players we have in the squad. We will go through that but that’s pretty much all. It’s not that Mo didn’t miss chances before in his life, that’s a part of the game. The penalty was super-convincing, a super penalty, then the next chance, that was obviously unlucky but it is not the first time he missed a chance like that. I will not make a big story of it, what you make of it I obviously have no influence on obviously, but no, I am not particularly concerned."

Liverpool Captain, Virgil Van Dijk, speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle,

"Firstly, credit to Atalanta. The damage was done last week [when] we were very poor and they had the perfect game. They deserve to go through. We made it far too difficult for ourselves with the result last week."

"Today was a good game, great fight. Obviously, we won but it doesn’t feel like it really. Obviously, it’s an improvement, but the reality is that we are out and we have to quickly turn this around, recover and travel to London on Saturday."

"We need everyone for that last push, and that’s the feeling that I’m getting now."

"We tried, we had some opportunities, but the 2-0 didn’t come. Obviously, there was still time, and maybe at times, we wanted it too quickly. Everyone was keen to get the second and eventually the third."

"Overall, obviously it’s a much better game than we played last week, but it isn’t enough."

And Van Dijk confirmed that he and the players were now solely focused on finishing the season as strongly as possible,

"We have to get back up. We have been through difficult moments all together, and we have done it before as well."

"Showing maturity, showing togetherness is the key to this, and professionalism, in order to be ready for Sunday."

"Today was a tough game and so will Sunday be. Everyone knows that and we all have a responsibility to make sure we are ready for it, physically and mentally. That’s the aim now. Everyone feels disappointed, I feel disappointed but we don’t have a lot of time to feel disappointed."

"Hopefully our fans will be there again – I have no doubt about that actually – but we will need them more than ever for the last six games of the season, where anything is still possible."

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