Ernesto Valverde Warns Liverpool Could Still Stage Comeback in Second Leg Despite Big Barça Win

Barcelona manager ​Ernesto Valverde has warned his players against complacency ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Liverpool next Tuesday.

The Spanish champions will take a 3-0 lead to Anfield after Luis Suarez's first goal in the competition this season preceded a Lionel Messi double.

However, the evening was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, as the Barça crowd were growing increasingly restless following a series of guilt-edge chances for the Premier League side.

"They have had very clear opportunities," Valverde said in his post-match press conference, via ​Goal.

The Spaniard praised the performance of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who made several important saves during the clash, most notably from James Milner and Mohamed Salah.

Valverde said: "It was a match in which they took control of the game at times and it cost us, but we were victorious against a very strong team.

"But this is similar to last year, when we were also three goals ahead against Roma."

The 55-year-old was of course referring to Barcelona's exit from Europe last season, when they took a 4-1 lead into the second leg of their quarter-final against the Serie A outfit, only to lose 3-0 in the Italian capital to exit the tournament in humiliating circumstances.

Lionel Messi netted his 600th goal for La Blaugrana with a sensational long-range free kick, and Valverde admitted that his teammates are still amazed by the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

MAN. OF. THE. MATCH.#Messi

Surprised? pic.twitter.com/X3kfcbCaAh

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 1, 2019

"We know what Leo is, but he does not stop surprising us," he added. "He has pushed us to the brink [of the final] but we still have to play the second leg." 

Source : 90min