ROBBIE FOWLER
THE final in Kiev may seem like the end of a journey for Liverpool, but I have a deep-rooted feeling it is just the start for Jurgen Klopp and his team.
The fans can be proud of their club, no doubt, they were magnificent and the courage they showed in taking the game to Madrid – and showing no fear or respect for their reputation – was incredible to watch.
It was a crying shame, a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching shame, that Mo Salah was taken out of the game like that, because until that point Liverpool were so far on top there could surely have only been one winner.
That is all a game of what ifs, and so too is whether Sergio Ramos had cynical intent with his challenge – and his reputation makes you wonder if he knew what he was doing – but there is still no doubt that Liverpool can take so much from this final, even in defeat.
The fans can believe in an even brighter future, because of the things I’ve seen. I was privileged enough to travel to Marbella for a sit down with the manager at their training camp, and have a long, fascinating conversation with him.
We talked tactics, man management, players and pride, but the things that stood out for me were his love for his men and Liverpool as a football club... and his incredible, unadulterated passion for his job.
That means so much going forward. It is the foundation for success at Anfield. What clearly came across were his feeling that he’s privileged to manage Liverpool, and his genuine love for his players.
As a former pro I can tell you other players outside the club take real notice of that. They can see how he treats his ‘boys’ as he calls them, and can see they love playing for him.
They can also see the pleasure they get out of playing for that team.
Most of all, they can see being part of it can give them big finals, amazing experiences... and if you think that’s all rubbish and the top players JUST chase money, then Virgil van Dijk tells you very differently.
Yes, he’s on a fabulous salary at Anfield. A bit more than the living wage, I’d guess.
But it is well documented he was pursued by other clubs with even deeper pockets, and at that time a more obvious bet to make big finals.
He was clever enough to see what is going on with Klopp and to see what can happen at Liverpool. Massive credit to Van Dijk for looking beyond money. What he saw was a manager who builds something which feels incredible to be part of. A team who love their football, and feel close to each other and part of something bigger. He saw what others are now seeing. It means so much because they will attract even better players now.
It didn’t matter about the result in Kiev, just reaching the final puts the whole dynamic of what is happening at Liverpool in the minds of the next generation of top stars.
It is something special, and they have the ‘Normal One’ to thank for that.