Final Heartbreak For U16s

Liverpool slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sierra Leone's FC Johansen in the final of the Swiss U16 Cup in Ruggell on Sunday afternoon.

After the contest ended goalless, FC Johansen managed to find the net in the early stages of extra time to secure the win.

With time ticking away, the Reds threatened to grab an equalizer but they were unable to find the back of the net despite their gallant efforts.

Earlier in the day, Liverpool beat Manchester City 2-1 in the all-English semi-final and boss Steve Cooper was delighted with the efforts of his players over the course of the competition.

The Academy manager told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I'm very proud of the boys - I think they've performed really well over the four days.

"It was always going to be a difficult task today heading into the semi-finals because there is more at stake in trying to get to the final, and also because the boys have had four hard days.

"It's been physically demanding with a lot of minutes played. We've picked up a few knocks, so we haven't been able to make many changes.

"But the lads didn't half perform well and I am really, really pleased with what they gave us.

"It's not just about playing and winning this weekend, it's about what we take from it and going back to the Academy with the boys having become better players.

"I think the four days here can only have been beneficial to the overall development. We've had a bit of everything - games where we've had to play football and pass our way to goals and wins, but we've also had to dig in a few times as well.

"We conceded a bit of a sloppy goal in the final, but it was going to take something like that for the game to go in somebody's favour, and on another day it could have gone our way.

"The players are entering a stage now where the football is becoming more competitive, and as long as the players realize this is what happens in elite, competitive football then they'll become better players for it.

"It's been pleasing that in every game they have tried to play our way, the way we are trained to develop our footballers at the Academy, and that's all we can ask."

The U16s were led out onto the pitch by members of Liverpool's Ability Counts squad, who have also been in action in Ruggell this week, before 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was played as the teams lined up.

The players have conducted themselves superbly all week in Ruggell - and Cooper is pleased with the attitude they have shown.

He said: "There was a bit of an opening ceremony to the final, and we're probably the only club with their own song here. I reminded the boys that they're playing for such a big club.

"With that comes a responsibility and an expectation all the time, and they have to live up to that. They cannot let the club down - and they didn't.

"We've told them that, and they realize it anyway. Every player that has come away with us this weekend has been on a trip with Liverpool before, so they know what's expected of them.

"They always need to know who they play for because it's a very special club and they're privileged to be part of it."

Though Liverpool has had a busy schedule of seven matches in four days in the tournament, Cooper feels the trip will also prove advantageous off the pitch.

"The football always come first on these trips because obviously they are footballers," he stated.

"But to be a footballer, you've also got to be a teammate and part of a team - and there's no better way to bond with your teammates than when you're away from home and staying in a hotel together.

"There hasn't been a single problem and it's been very enjoyable to be around the boys - and I think they've enjoyed being around each other as well. I think it's been a very beneficial experience for them."

He added: "We'll travel back soon, we'll give them a day off on Tuesday and then straight back into the normal training program on Wednesday. We have games at the weekend and we expect them to be at a good level straight away."