Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has reacted to Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Tuesday 3 May. They reached the final of the UEFA Champions League with a 5-2 aggregate win.
Following a 2-0 first-leg draw at Anfield, many expected the Reds to go berserk and easily knock out Unai Emery’s men at El Madrigal.
Villarreal weren’t ready to go with a fight but although they equalized in the first half, Liverpool’s world-class squad was just too much to handle.
Ferdinand has praised the Reds for their relentlessness in what could have been a different result had the nerves of Klopp’s men from the first half held up.
He told BT Sport (via TheSportReview):
“It was a missed opportunity for Villarreal. First of all congratulations to Liverpool. In the end, winners deserved.”
Ferdinand continues:
“They were on the ropes but they were allowed to pull themselves together at halftime. Liverpool smelled blood and credit to them they were fantastic. When they came out on top again, they demolished this Villarreal team.”
Jürgen Klopp’s team will now meet either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final in Paris on May 28th.
City currently have a 4-3 lead over Los Blancos who head off to a big second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday 4 May.
Klopp’s men remain in line for an unprecedented quadruple victory, having already won the Carabao Cup in February.
Liverpool’s second-half lightning strike breaks Villarreal’s hearts
Villarreal took an early lead through Boulaye Dia in the third minute before Francis Coquelin leveled the tie at 2-2 on aggregate in the 41st minute.
Jurgen Klopp must have gotten into his players at half time as they came out like one possessed in the second half and finally scored an important goal through Fabinho in the 62nd minute.
Luis Diaz, surprisingly not in the starting XI, came on at half-time and caused further damage with a 67th-minute finish.
Sadio Mane ended the game when Gerónimo Rulli sped out of goal and the Yellow Subs were left in despair as the Senegalese striker found the open goal.
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It was a night to forget for Rulli but certainly not for Anfield fans as her team reached their 10th Champions League final.
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