“Be calm”- Robertson reveals Liverpool’s dressing room atmosphere at half-time vs Villarreal

Andy Robertson reveals half-time dressing room atmosphere after Liverpool trailed Villarreal

Andrew Robertson was one of the many Liverpool players that had a half to forget against Villarreal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final. The Scottish left-back was visibly targeted by the Yellow Submarines.

And it paid dividends as they scored twice in the first half to take a 2-0 lead into the dressing room. The second goal, in particular, was arguably down to callousness from both Liverpool full-backs.

The cross came in from Robertson’s wing and was headed in by Francis Coquelin, who easily beat Trent Alexander Arnold in the air just 4 minutes from the half-time whistle. The travelling Liverpool fans were stunned.

But according to the ex-Hull City defender, the atmosphere was calm inside the Reds dressing room despite the team giving away a 2-0 aggregate lead. On being asked what was said to the players at halftime, Robbo said: (h/t Liverpoolfc.com)

“To be fair, it was calm. We had to be calm because, to be honest, I think they put everything into that first half. I thought they played really well and their crowd were up for it.”

A narrow escape

Robbo’s comments suggest that there was perhaps an understanding within the Liverpool team that a potentially tired Villarreal could be up for the taking in the second 45 minutes. And that is exactly what happened. Luis Diaz came on for Diogo Jota and the game completely changed.

The Reds scored thrice in one half to record their 6th away win in the UCL this season. Robertson, who captains Scotland on the international stage, added that it would have been a surprise if the La Liga side was able to sustain their high-intensity game in the second half.

“We would have been surprised had they managed to sustain it and we knew we could play a lot, lot better. We started being composed on the ball in the second half and you saw that when we started to pick them off.”

It was a game of two halves at the Ceramica and the Liverpool fans were given a scare they could have done without. LFC have been at the right end of many amazing UCL comebacks but it would have shattered the hearts of our fans had Villarreal pulled off the unthinkable last night.

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It is now time for the club and its fans to focus on the task ahead before the showpiece occasion in Paris on 28th May. The FA Cup final in mid-May is sandwiched between high-profile Premier League ties that will decide who takes home the PL crown this season.