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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Mark Jones

Maurizio Sarri makes bizarre claim about Liverpool and Tottenham in Champions League

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says his side's run to this season's Carabao Cup final is a more impressive feat than if Liverpool or Tottenham were to reach the Champions League final.

The Blues beat the Reds at Anfield in the third round of the League Cup and overcame Tottenham on penalties in the two-legged semi-final to reach the Wembley showpiece against Manchester City, which they lost on penalties after a goalless draw.

Liverpool, who face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals next week, came out of a group stage that included Paris Saint-Germain and Sarri's former club Napoli, and they've beaten Bayern Munich and Porto in the knockout rounds.

While Tottenham recovered from losing their first two matches and drawing the third to advance from a group featuring Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven.

Liverpool and Tottenham are in the Champions League semi-finals (Getty Images)

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Mauricio Pochettino's men then beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 on aggregate and edged out Manchester City on away goals in a thriller to set up a semi-final against Ajax.

But Sarri clearly doesn't think much of their achievements.

"The Premier League is really very difficult, for getting in the final of the League Cup we had to play against Liverpool , against Tottenham , the final against Manchester City ," said the Chelsea boss, via the Liverpool Echo.

"It was easier to get to the final of the Champions League.

Maurizio Sarri collects his runner-up medal in the Carabao Cup final (Action Images via Reuters)

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“I think many give to the Champions League too much importance.

"Of course it is the most important competition for clubs but it is a competition with straight elimination so sometimes you need a post in or a post out to qualify or to be eliminated.

"It’s clear it’s the most important competition for clubs in Europe, and as a consequence in the world, but it’s a competition in which you need to be lucky.”

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