London: An inspiring speech by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in the aftermath of the Europa League final loss to Sevilla two years ago was the catalyst for this season’s run to the Champions League title clash, captain Jordan Henderson has said.
Liverpool are within touching distance of a sixth European crown and are looking to deny holders Real Madrid a 13th title when the teams face off Saturday at Kiev’s Olympic Stadium.
“He (Klopp) looked at the bigger picture and the future and he felt as though it could be a big moment in our careers to learn from the experience,” Henderson was quoted as saying by the British media here Thursday.
“He had this vision that made me think in the future we’d get to another final. He wanted to use the experience of that final to keep us together and use it as a positive. If we got to another final we’d be ready. I can’t remember word-for-word but he had something about him that felt it was the start of something.”
Liverpool have put 2016’s 1-3 defeat by Sevilla in Basel well behind them and are firing on all cylinders in Europe’s elite club competition in this campaign.
The Merseyside club have already plundered 40 goals in their march to the final and England international Henderson credited Klopp with re-energising the team.
“I think you can see how he has taken the team forward since then has been fantastic. I see how hungry the team are to be successful,” Henderson pointed out. “I have spoken about the manager having a massive impact since he’s come in, which he has. He is our leader and everyone looks up to him.”
Ready for challenge
London: Few things have fazed Liverpool’s defensive tyro Trent Alexander-Arnold this season so it is no surprise that he is confident about keeping Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo under wraps in the Champions League final. Should the 19-year-old start Saturday against Madrid he would become the youngest player in the club’s history to appear in a European final. “He’s (Ronaldo) one of the best players ever. He’s done unbelievable things in the game, but he’s got weaknesses as well, as every player has,” Liverpool’s academy graduate told reporters Thursday. “Saturday we’ll try to exploit them and stop him from doing what he does best.”
