Coutinho Says Things About Liverpool and Champions League

For as frustrating and distracting as the Philippe Coutinho transfer saga was, most Liverpool fans barely think about the player who formally graced Merseyside for 5 years. His departure coincided with the arrival of Virgil van Dijk, defensive stability, a more balanced squad, and a heap of money to reinvest for the likes of Alisson Becker and Fabinho (with money to spare).

Moreover, immediately following his departure, Liverpool went through a tear in Europe. A tear, which as of this writing, hasn’t stopped (spare an unfortunate run-in with a violet psychopath in Kiev).

Anyway, Coutinho was interviewed, and of course had things to say.

“I am really looking forward to playing in my first Champions League semifinal, and I want to do a good job,” said the player who would have been playing in his second Champions League semifinal, had he stayed at Liverpool.

“Returning to Anfield will be very special, because I was very happy at Liverpool.”

Apparently he forgot about his “great sadness.” It’s OK, many of us remember the good times after a painful breakup.

“The Champions League is our big objective and we have to have a strong mentality for these types of games.

“Liverpool are a side with a very strong mentality, above all at home. They area great side in attack and defence, so we will have to be alert.

“They aren’t only about a strong attack. They have a great side and Anfield has a magnificent atmosphere.”

He’s not wrong in his assessment, either of Liverpool or of Anfield. That Liverpool enter the match at nearly even odds (a coin-flip one way or another) shows just how far this squad has come since Coutinho’s departure, just a year and a half ago.

Coutinho also knows that these comments will get back to Liverpool supporters, and that might, somehow, make it easier for him to return. Good luck with that, Phil.