Jamie Carragher has told Peter Schmeichel to ‘behave’ himself after he suggested that Liverpool won’t reach the Champions League final this season, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (05/04/22 at 7:30 pm).
The former goalkeeper claimed that there is ‘too much’ going on between Liverpool and Manchester City, hence why he is backing them both to fall at the semi-final hurdle.
On Tuesday night, the Reds secured a 3-1 win over Benfica, whilst a second-half Kevin de Bruyne goal separated Manchester City and Diego Simeone’s defensive-minded, Atletico Madrid.
But the shock of the round came in Spain when Villarreal beat Bayern Munich 1-0 last night, whilst Karim Benzema netted a remarkable hat-trick at Chelsea – the second-leg of these quarter-final ties will be played next week.
Nonetheless, when predicting the Champions League winners, Carragher didn’t like how many pundits were backing Man City, nor did he appreciate Schmeichel’s comments about his former side.
“I can’t believe you guys have gone for Man City,” said Carragher. “A club that has never won this trophy. A club that has never done anything in this competition.
“Bayern and Liverpool will play (in the semi-finals),” said Schmeichel “I think Bayern will beat them.”
Carragher interrupted: “Oh, behave!” Schmeichel then responded with a smile on his face: “Oh, I do behave.”
Carragher then shouted above the legendary keeper with laughter from fellow pundits: “No, no. You need to start behaving. Honest to God. What are you talking about.”
Schmeichel then explained: “A Bayern-Real Madrid final. I tell you why. Too much is going on between Liverpool and Man City. Too much pressure. Real Madrid and Bayern are so far ahead in their leagues. They can rest players and prepare for this. Man City and Liverpool can’t.”
Bayern have their work cut out in trying to get past a Villarreal team that won the Europa League last season.
But, in the round of the last 16, they drew 1-1 against RB Salzburg, only to smash them for seven at the Allianz Arena, so it’s nowhere near over yet.
Unai Emery has proven to be a master in the knockout stages of European competitions.
But many of those games have come in the Europa League, not the Champions League, so the reverse leg is going to be an interesting one because it seems as though Liverpool will be waiting for the winner, unless Benfica turn into prime Brazil at Anfield.
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