Jurgen Klopp has refused to blame Adrian for Liverpool’s Champions League exit.
The European champions’ defence was ended by an extra-time onslaught from Diego Simeone’s side in Wednesday’s crucial last 16 second leg clash.
A poor clearance by Adrian gifted Atleti a lifeline after the Reds took an upper hand in the tie through goals from Gini Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino.
But the Liverpool manager insists that the 33-year-old, drafted in due to Alisson’s hip injury, will not be held culpable for his side’s muted exit.
“He’s a man and he knows that’s how it isWe will not blame him for a second,” said Klopp.
“It would be really nice if you stay respectful. He did not want to do that, he saved us in so many moments when he played.
“Since he’s [been] here, he had super performances. This goal didn’t help but that’s how it is. If you lose a game you always lose for different reasons.
“Tonight, this was not the moment we lost the game, but it had a big impact. We should not say it was not like this because it was obvious.
“We conceded more goals after this and we didn’t score the goals in other situations. We had plenty of reasons why we didn’t go through.
“How it is in life, especially when your job is in public, people judge you. But he’s a grown man and he will deal with that.
“We will help him with that but I don’t think he needs it, to be honest.”