With the Champions League group stage all over, Koeman summed up his team's performance in the group stage in a press conference after the game.

'We're in a very competitive group, for most Champions League groups there are only two strong teams and two weak teams, so the suspense of qualifying is only about who wins the group, but Liverpool are not in such a group, we have strong opponents like Lyon and Fiorentina.

I have to admit that Liverpool's performance in the two legs against Lyon was not satisfactory, that is not Liverpool's real quality, we were hampered by injuries and allowed to qualify so late, we should have secured our place at the end of the previous round and only got a place until the last minute, I will not be disappointed because we are a team that started again in the summer, the problems of the new season are the same as most teams, and the reality is never as perfect as expected. I'm glad that we have overcome the difficulties and recently regained the form we had at the start of the season, and now that we have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, we can take a breather and concentrate on the league and try to be at our best for the knockout stages of the Champions League in the next two months. ”

Someone at the scene immediately raised their hands and asked: "The impact of the injury you mentioned is actually the most important thing about Qin Xiong's absence, right?" As long as Qin Xiong started the game this season, Liverpool won all the games, and the only game he missed was one Champions League match against Di Biseni Liverpool won, right? ”

Coman shook his head and said: "It is one-sided to interpret Liverpool's decline in results in the past period, how much impact does Carragher's absence have on the backline? You should also think about this, and Skrtel. Torres. Aurelio and so on. We need at least 11 main players to fight! ”

"But Qin Xiong helped the team out of the predicament immediately after his comeback, and his goals and assists were the most effective contribution to Liverpool, wasn't it? In the Liverpool team, Qin Xiong is obviously the most important player, he is there or not, Liverpool are two teams. ”

Perhaps the journalist is suspected of sowing discord and creating tension in the Liverpool dressing room.

However, Coman did not give an ambiguous answer, but said with a resolute attitude: "Yes, you are right. We all have to admit it. Steven Gerrard is the banner of Liverpool and he is also a spiritual leader, with players such as Alonso and Torres taking Liverpool to the next level. But Qin Xiong? He's the one who moves the team up the hierarchy and he makes it easier to win.

Ask Real Madrid, if Qin Xiong hadn't been injured last season, would they have lost to Barcelona? I believe that 99% of Real Madrid fans will say that if Qin Xiong can maintain full attendance last season, Real Madrid will definitely be able to defend the title.

A superstar who has finished in the top three of the Ballon d'Or awards for the past four years and has been a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, we shouldn't doubt his impact on the team, in my eyes. Qin Xiong is the best in the world!

The good thing is that our players are well aware of that because they are a team. For the honor of the team, it is obviously better to have Qin Xiong in the team, and no one will be jealous or dissatisfied. ”

If someone threw out such a topic three years ago, I am afraid that no manager would dare to say that Qin Xiong is more important than Raul in Real Madrid, or that Qin Xiong is more important than Henry at Arsenal, but now, Koeman, including most of the media, take it for granted, Mo said that in the Liverpool team, Qin Xiong's competitive contribution and value is more important than Gerrard, Torres, Alonso, and irreplaceable, of course, if someone understands this as Gerrard and others are dispensable, That can only be said to be too narrow-minded.

Because it is very simple for a team to go from 60 points to 80 points, some important reinforcements, suitable techniques and tactics, good run-in, etc., can make a team reach the level of 80 points.

But 80 to 85 points is very difficult, you need to have a lot of stars and superstars, and build on the previous ones.

And from 85 to 95 points, it is even more difficult!

It is obvious that Liverpool without Qin Xiong may have reached the level of about 85 points, but Qin Xiong was able to let Liverpool climb directly to the 95-point level!

Koeman did not admit Qin Xiong's status in the team against his will, which he also believes must be made clear, and there is nothing wrong with publicizing it.

Whoever is dissatisfied in the Liverpool team is actually working against the whole team!

A reporter in the audience turned the topic back to the Champions League.

"Bordeaux, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla. With two strong teams and two teams looking weaker out of the four opponents, which one would you most like to be opposed? ”

In the other seven groups, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all topping the group, Liverpool are only four opponents who are likely to face in the Champions League last-16 draw.

Koeman smiled very easily and said: "I won't think about this now, we won't entrust our fate to prayer, it's useless, besides, these four opponents, I think it's the same for everyone, the reason is very simple, the teams in the Champions League round of 16 gather the strongest clubs in European football, if you want to go further, or if the ambition is to win the Champions League, we can't meet a slightly weaker team from the 1/8 final to the final, the probability is too low, we always have to face strong opponents, in this case, There is not much difference between an early encounter and a late encounter. ”

The reporter who asked the question immediately said: "The last time you led Ajax to win the Champions League, the final was against Porto, who were not very strong. ”

Koeman shook his head and said: "But Ajax has met opponents like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Monaco in the knockout round, Monaco eliminated Real Madrid that season, and the final opponent Porto also eliminated Manchester United, and the unforgettable Deportivo also lost to Porto, so what you said is not true, that Champions League was full of upsets, but it cannot be said that the strength of the team is not strong, it can only be said that the two teams that are not famous in the top met in the final, such a situation is very rare, It's almost impossible to see now. ”

Talking about the unforgettable year of 2004, Koeman naturally talked a lot.

The reporters in the audience looked at each other, and they could all understand Koeman's mentality and recall the eventful years of the past.

When looking forward to the draw for the round of 16 of the Champions League, the media defined Liverpool as: the fate of 55 open!

50% probability of encountering a super strong team: La Liga Double!

50% probability of drawing: Bordeaux, Sevilla! (To be continued.) )