Football: Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback, says Jose Mourinho

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates winning the UEFA Champions league semi-final football match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield in Liverpool on May 7, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

(REUTERS) - Liverpool's stunning victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday (May 7) was made possible by the belief manager Jurgen Klopp has instilled in his squad, according to Jose Mourinho.

Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in the competition's history to beat Barcelona 4-0, overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit to advance to their second consecutive final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

"For me, this has one name - Jurgen," Mourinho, who led Porto and Inter Milan to the Champions League title, told beIN Sports.

"This is about him. This is a reflection of his personality - don't give up - his fighting spirit, every player giving everything.

"He's not crying because he's missing (injured) players, he's not crying because they're playing 50 or 60 matches a season... Today is about Jurgen's mentality.

"This is not about tactics, not about philosophy. This is about heart and soul and fantastic empathy he has created with that group of players."

Liverpool risked finishing the season without a trophy with Manchester City leading the Premier League title race with one game to go and Barcelona heavy favourites to advance to the final after a commanding win at the Nou Camp.

But the thrilling victory over the Spanish champions gave the Merseyside club a chance of winning a sixth European Cup when they face either Tottenham Hotspur or Ajax Amsterdam in the final on June 1.

"I didn't expect (this result)," Mourinho, who also coached Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United, added. "I said if it's possible, Anfield is one of the places to make it possible.

"They were at risk of finishing a fantastic season with nothing to celebrate and now they are one step away from being European champions."

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