ReactionIbrahima Konate's assessment of Liverpool's UCL defeat by PSG
The Reds were beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on Tuesday night as the holders completed a 4-0 aggregate victory.
Arne Slot’s men had created several chances and seen a second-half penalty kick awarded but overturned via VAR before Ousmane Dembele scored twice for the visitors.
Konate reflected on the game when speaking to Amazon Prime Video post-match. Read a summary below.
On whether a 4-0 aggregate score is a ‘fair reflection’ of the tie…
To be honest, we can say yes and no, because when we played there they had many chances and they only scored two. But we knew at Anfield we can maybe do something special. Today we created many chances and I think on the pitch we were the better team today. That’s why it’s a little bit unfair. It’s like the last season when we played [PSG] at home, we created many chances, we had so many opportunities to score, but at the end they had maybe one or two clear chances and they scored. This is football. Sad.
On the penalty for Liverpool overturned by VAR at 0-0 in the second half…
I think last season we had a penalty like that with, I think, [Diogo] Jota. I don’t remember which game exactly. For me, it was a clear penalty. I was just behind the referee at the VAR but he didn’t say it’s a penalty. Then, we have to deal with that. But I think at this moment if we get a penalty and we score, it’s completely different.
On whether the Reds’ level ‘has dropped compared to last season’…
A little bit, after we don’t have to forget what happened this season for us, many things happened and we don’t have to forget that. We bring new players, all of these things. But the game of today means a lot of things because against PSG, I think the PSG of this season is a little bit better than the season before and to make a performance like that against them, I don’t say we have to be happy, because we lost, but we have to build from that and realise how good we can be.
On the importance of securing Champions League qualification for next season…
For sure, I think it’s the minimum standard for Liverpool to play in the Champions League. We have six games left and during these six games, we have to go all in. We know how difficult the Premier League is but we have to go all in to be in the Champions League next season again.