Barry Lewtas reflects on Liverpool’s UEFA Youth League exit against Benfica
According to Liverpoolfc.com, Liverpool Under-19s coach Barry Lewtas has opened up on the club’s exit from the UEFA Youth League, following the 4-1 defeat away to Benfica.
The young Reds had a stellar competition where they entered the knockouts as group winners. They were, however, upstaged by the Portuguese giants as their campaign came to an acrimonious end.
The damage was done in the first half-hour as Benfica raced to a 3-0 lead aided by a penalty and a deflected free-kick. Tyler Morton, making his first appearance reduced the Reds’ deficit with a superbly taken volley while goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros saved Benfica’s second spot-kick of the night.
Harvey Elliott was up for the match
The hope was short-lived as a fourth by the Portuguese ended any hopes of a Liverpool comeback.
Talking about the game, Lewtas bemoaned the mistakes made by his side and was rueful in his admission that many of them happened in the same game. He credited his team for not downing their tools and pushing up the pitch to reduce the deficit.
“There were penalties, there were mistakes, we turned the ball over, they happen – it’s a shame so many happened in the same game.”
Liverpool progressed to the knockouts as group winners
He admitted that the scoreline at half-time wasn’t an indication of his team being poor but rather being careless in possession and turnovers. According to him, his team started off well in the second half only for a killer blow to be delivered with Benfica’s fourth of the night.
The night got worse as both Sepp van den Berg and Leighton Clarkson were sent off, reducing Liverpool to nine men. Lewtas praised his team for not giving up in spite of the difficulties faced by them in the match.
“Credit to the lads they stuck in there and kept trying to find a way even then.”
Youth team stars Neco Williams and Curtis Jones did not participate in the match as they were away with the senior squad for the FA Cup clash against Chelsea.
Lewtas revealed his joy at having two of his players represent the senior team and refused to make an excuse of their absence being the reason for the loss.
He admitted that Liverpool were the masters of their own downfall and that the players will come out better due to this experience.
“We’ll grow from it together as a group and we’ll see where we go next time.”
Liverpool progressed to the knockout stages as group winners after trumping the likes of Napoli, RB Salzburg and Genk.
