ReactionJames Milner: We have to learn from Real tie and finish season strongly

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James Milner reflected on the disappointment of Liverpool's Champions League elimination against Real Madrid and what the squad must now learn from it.

The Reds’ participation in this season’s tournament was ended at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night, where a 1-0 defeat by Real added to the 5-2 reversal in the opening leg at Anfield.

Jürgen Klopp’s side now face more than two weeks without a fixture and will resume their Premier League schedule next month with successive games versus Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Read a summary of Milner’s post-match assessment in Spain, speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, below…

Jürgen Klopp on Liverpool's defeat by Real Madrid and Champions League exit

Press conferenceJürgen Klopp on Liverpool's defeat by Real Madrid and Champions League exitJürgen Klopp offered an honest assessment of his side's performance after Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions League following a 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid.

On the first goal of the night eluding Liverpool and the impact that had…

Obviously we had chances and moments in the game where we didn’t quite get it over the line and maybe other situations we didn’t take advantage of. A goal maybe changes it. But I think over tonight and the first game we had spells where we played well, and I don’t think spells are enough obviously against a team as experienced and with the quality they have.

On the belief the players had before the game that they could mount a comeback…

We know what we’re capable of at our best. Unfortunately, over the two legs and at times this season we’ve been at our best in spells but not enough and not consistent enough. Like I said, against a team as good as them and experienced as them you have to be on it for the whole two legs. That’s disappointing. We have to pick ourselves up, learn from it and see where we can get better.

Watch: Milner's post-match verdict in Madrid

On the balance the Reds had to strike in their approach against Real…

It is tough, you have to get that balance – you want to be attacking and push numbers forward but also, they’re always going to have moments in the game, especially here. They break very well as well so it was important that we tried to keep it tight. They had chances obviously first half but we had our chances as well, and that’s always going to happen, especially when you’re chasing the game and you need to get the goals. But, unfortunately, we couldn’t get that first goal that might have just made it a bit more interesting. We gave it a go and it wasn’t enough on this occasion.

On the target of building momentum when the league season resumes after the international break…

Yeah, it’s important obviously Liverpool are in Europe and preferably the Champions League – that’s obviously always our aim. It’s down to us that we have to finish the season very strongly. We’ve obviously got an international break now. Is it a good thing, is it a bad thing? Only time will tell. Three big games when we come back. They’re all big games now, we have to go into each game and hopefully keep performing the way we want to, in the spells – we need to perform like that more often and be a bit more solid. It’d be nice to get a few more players back as well and hopefully can finish the season strongly and on a high.

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