Liverpool 2-1 Ludogorets – coach Rodgers speaks to the media:
“We showed great determination. At times, we had quality in our game and just in that final third of the field we couldn’t make the final pass.
“But tonight was about perseverance, if I was to describe the team. It’s an attribute you need to have, especially at the highest level. We just persisted – we kept going, working and pushing. The whole ground really appreciated that.
“It’s a competition that is about winning games and sometimes you’ll play well and maybe not get a result. It was always going to be a tricky tie for us because they’re the champions of their country and there are not too many bad teams in this competition.
“Technically, they were very good. We had to show patience and change the shape of the team from 4-3-3 to a diamond to try to work some more space in the area.
“Mario got a great goal, but I’m disappointed with the equaliser, as the team were, because we’ve got to see that out.
“Maybe in [my] first six months we probably would have drawn that game and maybe even lost it, but we showed the resilience and character that’s in this group.
“Roared on by the supporters, it was great for us – the young kid [Manquillo] was up in the box looking to get something from the game, and he got his reward and got the penalty.
“It was a brilliant victory for us in terms of the points and character. This is a tournament that’s about winning games – and we’ve won our first game.”
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