Divock Origi has revealed how Jurgen Klopp inspired Liverpool’s remarkable Europa League comeback against Borussia Dortmund.
Last night’s quarter final tie at Anfield looked set to end in defeat for the Reds after they trailed their Bundesliga counterparts 2-0 at half time, requiring three unanswered goals to progress.
Origi’s strike shortly after the interval reduced the deficit before Marco Reus struck again for Dortmund. Liverpool’s emphatic response in scoring a further three goals, including Dejan Lovren’s decisive injury-time header, as the hosts booked their place in the last four.
And the Belgium international has spoken about what transpired in the Anfield dressing room at half time.
“The manager was very calm, surprisingly calm – that’s the class of a big manager,” said Origi.
“You could see no panic, no stress, he believed in us and in the end it helped. He gives us belief and we tried to reward that, the belief of the fans, everything.
“We already know we have qualities and if the rest is in place, then you can play freely. In football, there’s no secret. You have to play with your whole heart and give everything.
“A lot of teams have qualities but when you have a good manager who is tactically strong, and have a good club with good fans, then there’s no secret. You can achieve great things.”
He added: “The manager just said that we lived to play in evenings like this. We had nothing to lose. We just had to go.
“We had to play and show our qualities and believe in ourselves and at the end we could win.
“It was a special evening. At half-time he told us we just had to do everything to make it a special evening to tell your children and grandchildren.”