NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Sparta Prague head coach Brian Priske insists Liverpool will not play in the Europa League after their 6-1 win at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s side demolished Sparta with a 5-1 first-leg win last week and followed that up with another sublime performance on Thursday night to secure their place in the Europa League quarter-final draw on Friday.
Priske admitted his Sparta side had never faced a team at Liverpool and believes Klopp’s men will be in the Champions League.
“We’re playing against a world-class team,” Priske said of Liverpool after Sparta’s defeat.
“A lot of respect for Liverpool for the way they played those two games, for the way they approached the games, for the great quality they have.
“Of course, we’re disappointed in the mistakes we made, whether it was in the first game or here in the first 20 minutes, but we’re still up against a world-class team today.
“I think the best I can say is that I hope you too, as well as Czech football fans at home, recognise that Sparta’s goal at Liverpool is huge.
“Of course, we knew that when we saw the equaliser, it was going to be difficult, it was going to be difficult. I felt like we were better in the first game, but overall they were a lot better than us.
“It shouldn’t take away from the European crusade that we’ve had as a team and as a club, and I hope that other people here realise that and appreciate the players for what they’ve done and don’t measure them against them. “in those two games.
“Like I said before, it’s a completely different point than what we’ve been betting on this season. We’ve played smart teams, Betis, Rangers, the last qualifying round against Galatasaray, but Liverpool are in a completely different spot.
“It’s an absolutely different level, we’ve never faced anything like this and it’s going to be a while before we do it again. “
“But Liverpool are a Champions League team and they deserve to be in the Champions League, maybe they’re in the semi-finals, maybe they’ll win the Premier League in two months’ time.
“We’ve noticed the individual quality, it’s another level. A lot of respect for the Liverpool players and the whole coaching staff, in some tactics it’s wonderful to see.
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