Legendary Serie A coaches Fabio Capello and Antonio Conte agree Liverpool were full value for their 3-2 Champions League victory over AC Milan last night, speaking to Sky Italia.
To be honest, if they’d said anything different you’d be forgiven for assuming two of the most influential coaches of the modern era had lost their touch.
If it wasn’t for some fine Mike Maignan saves, the occasional last-ditch tackle and plenty of wasteful finishing, Liverpool would have won by far more than the odd goal in five during their first ever competitive meeting with the Rossoneri at Anfield.
As it was, it took a Jordan Henderson stunner to seal three vital points in Group B. The captain notched his first Champions League goal in seven years after Mo Salah’s 48th-minute equaliser cancelled out late first-half efforts from Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz.
Capello: AC Milan leading Liverpool ‘was a liar’
“I would say the result in the first half (Milan went into the interval 2-1 up) was a liar for what Liverpool had shown,” says former England boss Capello, highlighting the dominance enjoyed by Jurgen Klopp’s high-pressing hosts.
“I think this can be a great lesson for Milan to understand the level of the Champions League. Great-quality players, great rhythm, great pressing – you can’t play at a slow pace.
“Milan lost possession because the ball came too slowly. The great speed and determination of this (Liverpool) team created problems.”
Conte, who lifted the Serie A title with Inter Milan as recently as May before being linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, struck a similar tone.
“Milan must use this defeat on their path to growth,” Conte says. “There was no worse return to the Champions League than Liverpool, given this crowd and this atmosphere.
“Too bad for the goal at the beginning of the second half, because the stadium was quieter than usual.”
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