Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique admitted that the ghosts of Rome haunted the team at Anfield after they failed to capitalise on a three-goal first leg lead for the second year running in the Champions League knockouts.
Pique said the 2017-18 Champions League quarter final 3-0 loss to Roma created a mental block for Barcelona against Liverpool and their intense pressing only made it harder.
Pique also acknowledged the Anfield crowd, saying they played their part in making the 4-3 comeback win possible.
“When something like that happens, everything or almost everything goes wrong,” Pique told El Pais.
“I think people were mentally affected by what happened in Rome because it had happened so recently. It was a mental block.
“They pressed very high, we lacked our usual passing rhythm, and it was very intense. Anfield also played its role.
“It’s been hard to lift ourselves up emotionally because the days passed but the loss wasn’t forgotten. We have to step forward.”
