"The first ten minutes are the most crucial of all!"
"Klopp's team has always been jokingly called a sixty-minute team, because this style of football can often only be played at a high level for sixty minutes. As their stamina drops, their performance inevitably declines with it."
"Germans like to call themselves boxers and see a football match as a boxing ring, trying to knock out their opponents with one punch right from the start."
"So against an opponent like this, we must remain patient while also maintaining a tight defense."
"The two channels, especially our left channel—Salah is very good at exploiting this side. Whether he drops back to receive the ball and organize an attack or cuts inside before suddenly making a forward run, he specializes in attacking the space behind us."
"So our goalkeeper must remain highly focused and be ready to cover any gaps in the defense when necessary."
"Don't worry. When they try to attack the space behind us, I'll come out decisively!"
Courtois stood on the pitch with absolute determination in his eyes, yet the promise he had made in the dressing room moments earlier still echoed in his mind.
The course of the match proved that Liverpool's attacking pattern was indeed just as expected. Their attacks looked fierce, like a violent storm, but in reality, they had created no truly dangerous chances.
Real Madrid's defense was no paper wall, especially when Carvajal and Marcelo committed themselves to defending.
Whether it was the protection provided by the three holding midfielders or the coordinated work of the defenders, Real Madrid displayed astonishing understanding.
No matter how Liverpool stretched and penetrated, Real Madrid always found a way to block them. On the several occasions Liverpool broke into and around the penalty area, Real Madrid's