The Champions League group stage came to an end. Comain summarized the team's performance in the group stage at the post-match press conference.
"We were assigned to a highly competitive group. For most Champions League groups, there are only two strong teams and two weak teams. In this case, the suspense of qualifying only lies in which of the two teams gets first place in the group. But Liverpool is not in such a group. We have strong opponents like Lyon and Fiorentina.
I have to admit that Liverpool's performance in the two games against Lyon was not satisfactory. That was not Liverpool's true strength. We were affected by injuries and were forced to advance so late. We should have locked in our qualifying place at the end of the last round, but we only got our qualifying place at the last minute. I'm not disappointed about that. After all, we are a team that started afresh in the summer. The problems we encountered in the new season are the same as most teams. Reality will never go perfectly as expected. I'm very happy that the team has overcome the difficulties and recently regained the invincible state we had at the beginning of the season. Now that we have advanced to the top 16 of the Champions League, we can take a breather and focus on the league tournament. We will strive to adjust to our best condition in the next two months to deal with the Champions League knockout stages. "
Someone immediately raised his hand and asked, "What you said about the impact of the injury is actually Qin Xiong's absence, right? Liverpool won all the games that Qin Xiong started this season. And the only game he missed was the Champions League game against Di Bissani, which Liverpool won, right? "
Comain shook his head and said, "This interpretation of Liverpool's decline in results in the past period is one-sided. How much of an impact did Carragher's absence have on the rear defensive line? You should also think about this issue. There's also Skrtel, Torres, Aurelio, and so on. We need at least 11 main players to fight! "
"But Qin Xiong immediately helped the team out of its predicament after his return. His goals and assists are the most effective contributions to Liverpool, aren't they? In Liverpool's formation, Qin Xiong is obviously the most important player. Whether he's there or not, Liverpool are two different teams. "
Perhaps the reporter was trying to sow discord and create a conflict in the Liverpool dressing room.
But Comain didn't give an ambiguous answer. Instead, he said firmly, "Yes, you're right. We all have to admit that Gerard is Liverpool's flag. He is also the spiritual leader. Alonso, Torres and other players have brought Liverpool to the next level. But Qin Xiong? He was the team that raised the level of the team. He made it easier to win.
Ask Real Madrid, if Qin Xiong had not been injured last season, would they have lost to Barcelona? I believe that 99% of Real Madrid fans would say that if Qin Xiong had maintained his full attendance last season, Real Madrid would have been able to defend their title.
A superstar who has been in the top three in the Ballon d 'Or voting for the past four years and has won the Ballon d' Or twice, we shouldn't doubt his role in the team. In my eyes, Qin Xiong is the best in the world!
Fortunately, our players are also fully aware of this because they are a team. For the sake of the team's honor, it is obviously better to have Qin Xiong in the team, and no one will be jealous or dissatisfied. "
If someone had thrown out such a topic three years ago, perhaps no manager would have dared to say that Qin Xiong was more important than Raúl in Real Madrid, or that Qin Xiong was more important than Henry in Arsenal. But now, whether it was Comain or most of the media, they felt that it was a matter of course. Not to mention in the Liverpool team, Qin Xiong's competitive contribution and value were more important than Gerard, Torres and Alonso. He was irreplaceable. Of course, if someone interpreted this to mean that Gerard and the others were dispensable, then it could only be said that such a view was too narrow.
Because it was very easy for a team to go from 60 points to 80 points. Some important signings, suitable skills and tactics, good running-in, and so on, could make a team reach the level of 80 points.
But it was very difficult to go from 80 points to 85 points. It required important star players and superstars, and to go further on the previous foundation.
And it was even more difficult to go from 85 points to 95 points!
It was obvious that Liverpool without Qin Xiong might reach the level of 85 points, but Qin Xiong could make Liverpool climb directly to the level of 95 points!
Comain did not go against his will to acknowledge Qin Xiong's position in the team. He also thought that this must be made clear, and there was no problem in publicizing it widely.
Whoever in the Liverpool team was dissatisfied, in fact, was going against the entire team!
A reporter below the stage turned the topic back to the Champions League.
"Bordeaux, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla. Among the four opponents, there are two strong teams, and there are also two teams that seem to be slightly weaker. Which one do you want to play against the most? "
In the other seven groups, because Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal had all won the first place in the group, Liverpool could only face four opponents in the draw for the Champions League round of 16.
Comain smiled easily and said, "I won't think about this now. We won't leave our fate to prayer. It's useless. Besides, I think it's the same no matter who we draw. The reason is very simple. The teams in the Champions League round of 16 are the strongest clubs in European football. If we want to go further, or if our ambition is to win the Champions League, we can't keep playing against weaker teams from the round of 18 finals to the final. The probability is too low. We will always have to face strong opponents. In that case, there's not much difference whether we meet them early or late."
The reporter who asked the question immediately said, "The last time you led Ajax to win the Champions League, the final was against Porto, which was not strong."
Comain shook his head and said, "But Ajax met opponents like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Monaco in the knockout stages. Monaco eliminated Real Madrid that season. Their opponent in the final, Porto, also eliminated Manchester United, and the unforgettable Deportivo also lost to Porto. So what you said is not true. That season of the Champions League was full of surprises, but it can't be said that the strength of the teams was not strong. It can only be said that two teams that were not famous met in the final. Such a situation is rare and almost impossible to see now."
Comain naturally became more talkative when he talked about the unforgettable 2004 of his life.
The reporters below the stage looked at each other and could understand Comain's mentality. He was reminiscing about the past.
The media defined Liverpool's fate when looking forward to the draw for the Champions League round of 16: 55 chances!
50% chance of playing against a super strong team: La Liga Double!
50% chance of drawing the best draw: Bordeaux, Sevilla!
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