Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has doubled down on his assertion that the Reds are the best team in Europe, despite their Champions League final defeat.
The England international, who also played for the Spanish club, had backed Liverpool to claim victory before kick-off. However, after a Vinicius Jr goal and a string of saves from Thibaut Courtois, Carlo Ancelotti's side were the ones celebrating a famous win.
Owen stuck to his guns after the final whistle, prompting "disrespect" claims from fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand. Even after sleeping on it, the 42-year-old has refused to back down.
“ Real Madrid have got past them today, but you know as well as anyone that a one-off game is a one-off game," Owen said on BT Sport after Liverpool's 1-0 loss. "I still think they're the most fearsome team in Europe and they've not got any of the big two trophies to show for it, that'll be the biggest pill to swallow.”
The comments received plenty of backlash, and not just from Ferdinand. Still, when pulled up on the matter on social media, Owen was unrelenting.
"When a team beats another it doesn’t necessarily mean they are better," he tweeted. "Would you back Madrid to beat Liverpool if they played again next week? Or Man City for that matter who dominated them for 160/180 minutes. I’ve so much respect for Madrid but simply think Liverpool are better."
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"I don't think they're the best team in Europe, I think you've got to win the biggest trophies to be considered the best," Ferdinand had argued. It was the third time Klopp's team have lost to Real Madrid in the last five seasons, with a 2018 final and 2021 quarter-final going the way of the Spanish club.
“They're an unbelievably exciting team, the points tally they've got in the league, the consistency in which they've played, they've competed in every single game available to them, but you've got to get your hands on the big trophies to be called outright the best team in Europe," the former Man Utd defender continued.
“I don't think they'll be considered that and it would be disrespectful to Real Madrid to say that. They've just beaten all our top three teams in our league, they've got rid of them and got their hands on that trophy.
Liverpool had more shots in total and more shots on target than their opponents. However, thanks in no small part to a match-winning performance from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid denied Jurgen Klopp's side.
"They scored a goal, we didn't. That's the easiest explanation in the world of football," Klopp said. "Harsh, but we respect it of course. When the goalkeeper is man of the match something is wrong. Something is going wrong for the other team.
"Whatever you do, within the rules, is completely fine. We played a good game, but when you lose 1-0 you have to admit it wasn't good enough."
