ANDYVOWSTO MAKEHISTORY
SCOTLAND SKIPPER WON’T FORGET HIS ROOTS
FRoM BacK Page winner Robertson wants to achieve what no Liverpool side has managed before by conquering the global game and lifting the FIFA Club World Cup trophy.
Robertson admitted it will be a step into the unknown tonight when Jurgen Klopp’s men face Mexican champions Monterrey in Qatar for a place in Saturday’s final against Brazilian side Flamengo.
Robertson would love to change that and become only the third Scot to get his hands on a winners’ medal after Scott Booth, with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, and Darren Fletcher at Manchester Utd in 2008.
The 25-year-old admitted his long-term dream is to be back in Doha with Scotland with tonight’s semi-final taking place exactly three years before the World Cup Final will be staged in the Gulf nation.
Robbo, rested for the weekend win over Watford that saw the Reds extend their lead over Leicester to 10 points, told Record Sport from Liverpool’s luxury base in Qatar: “The aim for us all is to become world champions.
“It’s been an incredible year for all of us – the incredible points in the Premier League in the calendar year, the Champions League and everything that went along with that, it would be great to add another trophy that will be the same over the next two games.
“As players we want to make history for this club because we have never won it. We are desperate to do it. The incentive of being the third Scot to win it is also there.
“We know how big this is and what it represents but we don’t know much about the teams and that is the hard bit so we need learn things quickly, do our homework and hopefully we can get our hands on the trophy.”
Qatar’s winning 2022 World Cup bid has been shrouded in controversy with the tournament taking place in winter for the first time due to searing summer temperatures, allegations of bribery and the country’s human rights record.
Liverpool’s semi-final has been switched from Doha’s dazzling new Education City Stadium which isn’t match ready and will instead take place at the Khalifa.
Robertson and his team-mates were greeted by hundreds of fans on their arrival and he would love to be back in 2022 with Scotland.
He said: “So far we have only been to the training ground and it was different class, excellent conditions and great facilities.
“A lot has been made of the fact the stadium we are meant to be playing in is not ready yet but they still have three years so they are on schedule.
“Everything for us has been excellent. They are all new-build stadiums so everything will be fantastic come 2022.
“I don’t know how it is even going to work with the World Cup being in December but it’s just Scotland we want to worry about.
“We want to be here for the World Cup – that’s got to be our aim and I know all the lads are determined to do it.”