Besiktas goalkeeper Cenk Gonen was pleased that his side settled old scores against Liverpool last night and stressed that the victory was important for the club and the fans.
The Black Eagles’ 8-0 mauling at Anfield in the Champions League in 2007 did become a topic of discussion after the Europa League round of 32 draw was announced in December and a club official did talk about avenging the humiliation suffered at Liverpool's hands.
Liverpool were favourites to win the tie after they won the first leg at home 1-0, but a stunning goal from Tolgay Arslan in the 72nd minute took the game first to extra time and then to penalties at the Ataturk Stadium last night. Dejan Lovren missed the all important last penalty to allow the Turkish giants to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League, 5-4 in the shoot-out.
Gonen stressed that the win against Liverpool was important as the club had a few old wounds to heal and there was a real desperation among the fans to settle old scores against the English giants.
"We had a history with Liverpool and I think we have settled the score now", the Besiktas goalkeeper told UEFA.
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"It was important for the team, for the club, for the fans.”
Reflecting on Lovren’s crucial miss, Gonen feels he did enough to create doubts in the Croat’s mind, which led to him fluffing his lines.
"I waited until the very last moment before he shot. I did not move and I think it played a part in making him miss."
Liverpool had won all three of their previous European penalty shoot-outs, beating Roma in the 1984 European Cup final and AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final, before defeating Chelsea at the semi-final stage of the same competition in 2007.
Now the Reds must switch their focus to the Premier League.
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