‘Liverpool didn’t deserve 3-0 defeat’ – Jose Mourinho on Barca Champions League rout (VIDEO)

Jose Mourinho says Liverpool deserved more than to leave the Camp Nou with a 3-0 deficit after succumbing to Barcelona and an inspired Lionel Messi in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg.

Barca head to next week’s second leg at Anfield with a three-goal advantage after a first-half finish from former Reds striker Luis Suarez and a second-half double from Messi – the second of which came from a stunning free-kick.

Liverpool had good chances of their own throughout a breathless, high-quality encounter – including through Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, who hit the post late on.  

Despite the scoreline, Mourinho feels the Premier League team – who shaded possession with 52 percent of the ball in the game – were somewhat hard done by.    

“Liverpool was brave in the approach,” Mourinho said.

“I don’t think in the past 20 years many teams in the Champions League they beat Barcelona in all possession in the Camp Nou.” 

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Ultimately, the tie appears to have been killed by a moment of magic from Messi, whom Mourinho praised.

“Of course they [Barcelona] have a good team, they have phenomenal players, but that player [Messi] is absolutely incredible,” Mourinho said.    

The Portuguese added that the tie could be even more beyond Jurgen Klopp’s team, had Barcelona not spruned late chances of their own.  

“Liverpool deserves much more than the 3-0 defeat, much more, but in the last two corners of the game, it could be 4-0 or 5-0, because the game was broken and then they couldn’t cope,” he said.  

© Reuters / Albert Gea

Despite the world currently being in rapture to yet another Messi masterclass, Mourinho added a lament to the day the 31-year-old Argentine decides to hang up his boots.

“The question is, which Barcelona are we going to have when Messi decides to say goodbye?” Mourinho said.  

For further insight from Mourinho on all this week’s Champions League action – including the Tottenham versus Ajax tie – be sure to watch the full episode of ‘On the Touchline with Jose Mourinho’ when it airs on RT later on Thursday, or check it out on our YouTube channel soon afterwards.