Liverpool coach Neil Critchley has revealed John Terry and Dean Smith went into their dressing room to credit youngsters on how well they played.
With the Liverpool first-team and coaching staff away in Qatar, where they will play in a FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey; it was up to Critchley and Liverpool’s U23 team to fill in their absence for the Carabao Cup quarter-final game against Aston Villa.
However, the youngsters didn’t sacrifice Jurgen Klopp’s expectations, as they suffered 5-0 defeat.
Following the game, Critchley, however, revealed, Smith and Terry congratulated youngsters for their performance.
“I want to say the conduct of the Villa players was first class,” Critchley said post-match on Sky Sports. “For Dean [Smith] and John [Terry] to come in [the changing room] and say what they did was great. They said how difficult we made it for them, we've got great players and wished us all the best for the future.”
Explaining his decision to say a few words, Smith said:
“I told them they're a really talented group of players, and they made life very difficult for us. I'm sure there are a number of players we've seen out there who will be playing in the Premier League in three or four years' time. And losing 5-0, sometimes that's all you remember, rather than the performance, so I felt it was important to say a few encouraging words.”
There were players, who impressed during the game. Harvey Elliot was one of them. Jamie Redknapp hailed him as a "real deal".
Source-
Daily Mail
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