Liverpool, whose German coach Jurgen Klopp adopts a pressing and fast attacking style, had won the English Football League following a 30-year wait and the Champions League following a 14-year fast, when Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara landed in his ranks two years ago. Few players can match the Brazilian-born player in terms of the number of titles he won during a victorious career, as he was crowned 11 times as the local league champion in the ranks of his former teams Barcelona, Spain and Bayern Munich, in addition to winning the European Champions League with both. However, Tiago’s style did not reflect the way Klopp’s squad played, and pessimism regarding Tiago’s abilities to adapt to the speed of Liverpool’s pace in his first year in England increased, especially in light of the many injuries that made him miss several matches. Even when he was in perfect shape, his style was considered by many to be too slow compared to what his team was offering. But Klopp responded to his midfielder’s critics by saying: “I thank God that these people do not make decisions.”
‘He wasn’t so lucky’
He added: “He was not lucky with injuries at the beginning, but when he is in full form, he can tune into the rhythm of the match. He has a vision for that, he can calm the rhythm of the match at the right moments, and he understands the game perfectly.”
This vision was evident recently at a crucial time for Liverpool, which is seeking to achieve an unprecedented quartet for an English team. The red team was crowned champion of the English League Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties in late February, and reached the FA Cup final, where the same competitor meets on the current 14 He is also one step away from reaching the Champions League final following he beat Villarreal 2-0 in the first leg at Anfield, and is one point behind Manchester City in the English Premier League.
Thiago, who has experience winning titles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, said when asked if he played better before compared to what he is doing now: “I have enjoyed every era in my career. Of course, I am 100 percent enjoying my time here. We have this mix of experienced players with other young talents. We created such a wonderful atmosphere in helping each other.” Ironically, the period of Liverpool’s decline in the level of late last year and the beginning of this year coincided with the infection of Tiago with the Corona virus and an injury to his hip in the same period. The only time that Liverpool lost with Tiago on the field was once morest Inter in the second leg of the Champions League final, following Liverpool had won the first leg at the San Siro stadium 2-0.
Liverpool have not lost by two goals all season in 56 games in various competitions, and if he avoids that Tuesday once morest Villarreal, he will play his third continental final in the last five years.
Liverpool lost the first final in this series once morest Real Madrid 1-3 in 2018 in a match in which Egyptian star Mohamed Salah was injured at the beginning following an argument from Real defender Sergio Ramos, before he compensated the following year and defeated his compatriot Tottenham 2-0.
