Luka Modric dressing room message sums up Liverpool task ahead of second leg

13 March 2023 , 07:00

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Luka Modric dressing room message sums up Liverpool task ahead of second leg

Liverpool have a huge task on their hands to turn around their Champions League tie against Real Madrid and a message from Luka Modric sums up the mentality of the Spanish giants.

The Reds have a mountain to climb in the tie after crashing to a 5-2 defeat in the first leg at Anfield last month. Early goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah had appeared to put the hosts in control, but Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema both netted doubles and Eder Militao was also on the scoresheet.

Madrid are now huge favourites to advance through to the quarter finals, albeit there is still the return leg to be played – with the Reds no strangers of stunning European comebacks. Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has highlighted last season’s tie against Chelsea, when the Spanish giants secured a 3-1 first leg victory at Stamford Bridge – before almost crashing out.

A new Apple TV+ series titled 'Real Madrid: Hasta el final' (Real Madrid – until the end) has now been premiered. The show details the Spanish club’s remarkable run to win the Champions League last season.

In what was arguably the most stupendous Champions League victory of all time, the club saw off a host of tournament favourites to lift the trophy for the 14th time in their history – including several scarcely believable comebacks.

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In the Round of 16 they came from 0-2 down on aggregate to beat Paris Saint-Germain, before seeing off Premier League trio Chelsea, Manchester City, and ultimately Liverpool on their way to the crown.

Real Madrid players ran riot at Anfield last month - winning 5-2 after being two goals down (Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

Have Your Say! Do Liverpool stand any chance of advancing past Real Madrid this season? Tell us what you think here.

In an episode, Croatian midfield maestro Modric recalls, as his side trailed 1-0 after the first leg of their Round of 16 tie against PSG following the opening game in Paris: "There was a lot of criticism and such, and we knew that we had to change. But despite not playing well and that they were better, when I left the field I gave Carvajal a message that turned out to be true."

The former Tottenham midfielder continued by explaining that he had said to his teammate and right-back: "We are going to crush them (PSG) in the return leg (in Madrid)."

While Los Blancos did not exactly outclass or outplay their opponents, a stunning hat-trick from Karim Benzema in the final half hour turned the tie on its head and saw Modric’s team advance through to the last eight. Their mentality and attitude indicates just how difficult it will be for the Reds to turn this fixture around.

Colin Millar