Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri said several of his team-mates cried tears of joy in the dressing room after their incredible Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona.
Jurgen Klopp’s side staged one of the greatest fightbacks in Champions League history as they overturned a 3-0 first leg deficit with a remarkable 4-0 victory against Lionel Messi and company on Tuesday.
Shaqiri and his team-mates celebrated in front of Anfield’s famous Kop stand before returning to the sanctuary of the dressing room, where many of the players were overcome with emotion.
According to Swiss star Shaqiri, some could not hold back the tears as the reality of reaching Liverpool’s second successive Champions League final in such unexpected circumstances began to sink in.
“Crazy. Everyone was shocked, like they couldn’t believe it. We were celebrating, some of the guys were crying. Me? No! I am just so happy, so happy to have helped,” said Shaqiri, who was making his first start since January 30.
“We have achieved something special. The manager didn’t change things a lot. He just told us to perform, to keep going.
“We knew everyone had written us off because of what happened in the first leg.
“It was an incredible performance. If you believe – if you believe in life – anything and everything can happen.”
Paying tribute to Liverpool’s fans, who turned Anfield in a raucous sea of red, Shaqiri insisted his team’s triumph was the best the famous old stadium has ever seen.
“The fans, they pushed us to the end. They wouldn’t let us stop. It is so difficult to explain what happened in the game,” he said.
“We got what we deserved. What an unbelievable night – maybe the best night there has ever been here.
“We knew everything could happen and we are really proud of what we have achieved.”
– Biggest stage –
Shaqiri has already won the Champions League with Bayern Munich but desperately wants to lift the trophy with the Reds, who lost last year’s final against Real Madrid.
“I have won the Champions League with Bayern Munich and I know what it is like to win this title,” he added.
“It is the biggest one there is to win. It is the football stage in Europe, everyone watches you – everyone wants the trophy. I want to win it a second time.
“We are there in the final and I want to win it with Liverpool. After what we did against Barcelona, we all want to win it.
“But there is a long way to go. It is difficult to speak about the final now as we still have one more Premier League game.”
And he said Liverpool haven’t given up hope of a twist on the final day of the Premier League season, which could yet deliver a first English title since 1990.
Liverpool players celebrated in front of the Kop after fans turned Anfield into a raucous sea of red
Liverpool are one point behind leaders Manchester City, but would be crowned champions if they beat Wolves and Pep Guardiola’s team fail to win at Brighton.
“We want to finish the season well. Man City have the lead; they have to lose or draw and we have to win.”
“If we don’t win the Premier League, at least we have a chance to win the Champions League.”
