CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
IT is a final between the reigning house of Europe and a reinvigorated dynasty. Mouthwatering enough?
Now consider the fact that both see goals scored as their best route to glory and you have the promise of a firecracker.
And if further sparks were needed, sub-plots including the battle between Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale at loggerheads with manager Zinedine Zidane over playing time and Real’s chase for the Treble provide them. Throw in IN KIEV Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s repeated history of final disappointment and it makes for a powerful cocktail.
Liverpool’s campaign to date has been a thrilling vindication of a promise made by Klopp to his players after the latest of those in a Basle hotel two years ago following the Europa League final loss to Sevilla. Captain Jordan Henderson recalled this week the outline of a monologue from Klopp insisting to his players there would be more nights like that, more chances to atone.
Tonight, the has arrived.
“I said to the boys before the semi-final [this year against Roma] I don’t think we are the last time here,” said Klopp.
“I think we are a club and a team next year that could, not will, but could be here again far in the competition.
“It is obvious that as a club we are back and to qualify for a final shows that. And while we don’t need the trophy to first of them show how good we are, now we have to win the game.”
Klopp stands on the brink of joining Bob Paisley, who won the European Cup three times, Joe Fagan and Rafa Benitez if he can bring a sixth crown to Liverpool.
Yet he would not be normal if he did not approach the match tonight with a degree of trepidation given a record in cup finals in Germany and England that reads WLLLLL, including a Champions League final with Dortmund and that Europa League loss in 2016.
Klopp swats away claims such a record might have a bearing tonight but scoring first could be the key to reversing that trend with two lethal-looking attacks liable to exploit opponents forced to chase the game. “It’s better you lose the semi-final than the final as nobody talks about who lost the semifinal,” said Klopp. “But, no,
It is now obvious we are back