When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Mourinho was working as a pundit on beIN SPORTS for the second leg of the semi-final. Liverpool were massive underdogs heading back to Anfield after a 3-0 defeat at the Nou Camp last week. But the Reds upset the odds, winning 4-0 on the night and securing their progress to the final in Madrid. And Mourinho, who called himself ‘The Special One’ when he first came to England as Chelsea boss in 2004, admitted his demise after the result.<doc-sep>Get our LFC newsletter for the best Reds coverage Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Jose Mourinho has hailed the impact a Liverpool ball-boy had on Tuesday's incredible comeback against Barcelona in the Champions League final. With the Reds trailing 3-0 from the first leg at Camp Nou, Jurgen Klopp's team fought back and produced a truly stunning turnaround to beat the La Liga champions 4-0 at Anfield. Their match-winning goal was clinched via a quickly-taken corner as Trent Alexander-Arnold swept in the set-piece for Divock Origi to score his second on the night. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now The Reds were able to take the corner while Barca's defenders were napping thanks to the quick thinking of 14-year-old Academy player Oakley Cannonier , who supplied Alexander-Arnold the ball. It was on such small details that Liverpool were able to complete one of the most memorable evenings in Anfield history and former Manchester United boss Mourinho has explained the importance of the teenager's role. Mourinho, who reportedly sacked United's ball-boys in 2017, talked up the job they do and how they can affect the games they work at, praising Liverpool for their approach. And the Portuguese coach couldn't resist a mention of his former club after replacing Old Trafford's ball-boys with Academy players two years ago. "You want a quick throw in, the ball boys need to know you want a quick throw in," Mourinho told RT. "The ball must arrive fast. I had a club where the club never understood how important the ball boys are. "Even if you are winning, that speed is important. The goal kicks, the tempo of the game, the ball-boys, in a good structure, can also play a part "People don’t know that a real football club, every detail is very, very important. In this game, the kid, very intelligent, very bright. (Image: BT Sport) "I don’t know if he’s an academy player or not, but the kid knew what he was going to do. "I had a club where they never understood how important the ball boys are. "I was a ball-boy, a top ball-boy…when I was a ball-boy, I even knew where the players wanted the ball for a corner, so they didn't need to touch the ball." The ex-United and Chelsea manager also reserved a word of praise for 20-year-old defender Alexander-Arnold whose two assists helped the Reds to their second successive Champions League final. (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images) He added: "Then Alexander-Arnold, he read the situation fantastically well. Young kid, Champions League semi-final, tired, 80 minutes of football. "He saw everything. I always say, the good players are the ones that are on the pitch and everything is clear, they see everything. He saw that." Liverpool will meet Spurs in the showpiece final in Madrid on June 1 after their own comeback against Ajax on Wednesday night.<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Jose Mourinho was full of praise for Jurgen Klopp after he guided Liverpool to a stunning 4-3 aggregate victory over Barcelona. The Catalan giants thumped the Reds 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final in Spain and were expected to see out the result at Anfield on Tuesday. But a Georginio Wijnaldum brace and Divock Origi double booked Liverpool's place in the final against all the odds. Mourinho hasn't always seen eye to eye with Klopp, who was his rival when he was Manchester United boss back in 2018. But the Portuguese had nothing but positive things to say about the German after Liverpool's stunning display against Barcelona. (Image: @beINSPORTS/Twitter) Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Mourinho said: "This is about him. This is a reflection of his personality, don't give up, his fighting spirit. "Everything I think today is about Jurgen's mentality." (Image: BT Sport) Klopp was in a spirited mood himself after the match and even swore on BT Sport. "The boys are f***ing giants - it's believable," said Klopp. "If you have to fine me, fine me. I'm not native so I don't have better words for it."<doc-sep>
The former Real Madrid boss believes that the Reds' winning goal on the night was a perfect example of Barca's mental state Jose Mourinho has questioned Barcelona's mentality after the Spanish side collapsed against Liverpool in spectacular fashion on Tuesday, comparing their defending to that of an under-14 team. Barca entered the second leg of the Champions League semi-final with a three-goal lead, but were dismantled by the Reds in a shocking 4-0 defeat at Anfield. Liverpool advanced to the Champions League final at Barca's expense in a 4-3 aggregate win. After the game, Mourinho, who managed Barca's rivals Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, called out the Blaugrana and singled out Liverpool's fourth goal as an example of their poor mental state. Trent Alexander-Arnold caught Barcelona's defence napping and his quick corner kick found Divock Origi, who scored his second of the night and the goal that ultimately knocked out Barcelona. "If you see that goal in an under-14 or an under-15 match you would say, 'the kids are sleeping, the kids have no mentality to play football, the kids have to learn the basics of the game,' Mourinho said on beIN SPORTS. "But we are speaking about the best players in the world and to concede that goal really shows you a state of mind. "At half-time I said if Liverpool score a second goal the atmosphere will be really difficult to cope with and the atmosphere was really difficult to cope with. "But Barcelona have some of the best players in the world. It's their natural habitat to play at that level, it's their natural habitat to play Barcelona [versus] Real Madrid, Champions League final, Champions League semi-final every season." Barcelona will rue yet another Champions League collapse, after they lost 3-0 to Roma in the quarter-final second leg last season to be eliminated after a 4-1 win in the first leg. Mourinho believes that Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde will have a difficult job to explain how his side once again failed to protect a three-goal lead after the first leg of a Champions League knock-out tie. Article continues below "It's something that's so difficult for me to explain, it's so difficult for me to believe that my team is winning 3-0 in the first leg and we're going to lose 4-0 in the second leg. "I would like to see Valverde try to explain but I still believe it will be very difficult for him to explain."