ReactionArne Slot's press conference after Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool in Champions League
Mario Lemina's early goal in Istanbul on Tuesday means the Reds will need to overturn a deficit at Anfield next week in order to reach the quarter-finals.
See a summary of Slot's post-match press conference at RAMS Park below.
On the game and similarities to September's meeting in the league phase...
I think we started the game really well, even better than three months ago. We were having three or four great moments, with, of course, the biggest moment when Florian [Wirtz], I didn't see it back but it came across as almost an open goal where he could finish that ball. We weren't able to score. Like last time, when we had our chances they five seconds later got their first attack, led to a corner.
You have to give credit for the way when they get a chance they play as if it is the last chance of their lives. That is definitely something we can learn from them because we sometimes get our chances and it comes across as if we think we get 10 more. So we were 1-0 down and it's already a difficult place to go if you're 0-0, but if you are one goal down it makes it even harder for us, for everyone who's on the pitch, except for their own players. Yeah, a 1-0 loss.
On the frustration at 'not making more of the opportunities had' and the decision-making...
I wouldn't say frustration but that's a situation we are facing and I'm responsible for that. I'm facing already large parts of this season with getting the ball to the final third, getting them towards moments where you think you can get more. But today we've created enough to score a goal. And, of course, we scored one but that one was overturned by the VAR.
On whether he thinks it is 'good the tie is only 1-0 going into second leg because of Galatasaray's chances'...
I don't think they had a lot of chances in the second half, did they? No. They have good players and they're a good team, so they will always create chances. They scored five against Juventus here at home, so that tells you what they're capable of. We've had very good chances, one-on-one to the goalkeeper and unfortunately couldn't score. But again, as I have to give credit to how they scored their goal, I have to give credit to the way they defend as well because they keep on fighting, throwing themselves in front of the balls. And in that moment when Hugo [Ekitike] went one-v-one, it was the goalkeeper [there] to make a very important save.
But what I do know is now it's half-time. We've lost here twice with 1-0 and the good thing is the next game is not played here. It is played at Anfield and our fans can create a similar atmosphere. I don't think it's possible that if I look at the last two games that so many things can go against us as happened in the last two games, although sometimes I question that if I look at this season. But I think things will be more normal in a home game for us. And I also think we can improve our performance and that, with the help of our fans, has to lead to a big game in a week.
On the VAR decision that ruled out a potential Liverpool equaliser and whether he was given an explanation for it...
No, it's always very difficult to talk to referees in situations like that because they have communication with the VAR, so they have to listen to what is being said. If it's correct that the goal was disallowed, which is difficult for me to judge because I heard different opinions from people and it's not completely obvious, so that is already one thing, but let's say the decision was right, then I was even more frustrated about the fact every free-kick and every corner kick we took, if you only look at Galatasaray players, the referee already gave a free-kick for Galatasaray. If you then look at how much they pulled on Virgil [van Dijk]'s shirt before the ball hit Ibou [Konate]'s arm, then it's safe to say we were not the only one impressed by the atmosphere here today.
On whether he felt his front three weren't involved as much as he would have liked...
I think they were quite involved, to be honest, especially in the first half, where they had a lot of involvement. We were – they were – a lot of times close to very promising situations, or even chances, because it felt to me at half-time we missed an opportunity. We missed an opportunity to score a goal to be in a much better position than we were at half-time. But the reality was that we weren't and then we came out in the second half, immediately get a good chance for [Alexis] Mac Allister's shot and, of course, not much later the one-on-one for Hugo. I think they had their moments. In an away game in Europe you cannot expect 15 chances for them, but the quality players they are usually – and another time they will be able to – get more out of these situations than we did today.