Ramos ‘clever’ in Salah incident

Scottish defender rues injury that forced Egyptian off after first half challenge

Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson described Sergio Ramos’ gamesmanship as “quite clever” after the Real Madrid captain’s involvement in the injury that forced Mohamed Salah off in Saturday’s 3-1 final defeat in Kiev.

Ramos was seen to hang on to the Egypt international as the pair fell to the ground in a first-half challenge which resulted in the 44-goal Reds forward being forced off with shoulder ligament damage.

It was a turning point in the game as Real’s confidence grew as Liverpool’s waned in a final that became a horror show for goalkeeper Loris Karius.

Salah tweeted last night that he is “confident” he will be available for Egypt in this summer’s World Cup, which starts in just under three weeks.

The 25-year-old posted:“It was a very tough night, but I’m a fighter. Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud.

“Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”

Scotland defender Robertson did not go so far as to apportion blame for the incident, but said: “I think it is just how he (Salah) has landed but Ramos is quite clever, isn’t he?

“We are clutching at straws if we are saying that. It’s unfortunate. It just disrupted our rhythm a wee bit.

“He has done unbelievable this season and for it to end that way for him was devastating. I hope he goes to the World Cup because a nation is relying on him.

“Hopefully he’ll come back bigger and stronger.”

The former Dundee United full-back insists no one is blaming Karius for their defeat.

The German keeper made two huge errors which allowed Real to take 1-0 and 3-1 leads, throwing the ball on to Karim Benzema for the opener and then allowing a Gareth Bale drive to slip through his fingers.

Karius was distraught at the end, many of the Liverpool players were also in tears, but Robertson insists the responsibility will be shared by the team.

“We win as a team, we lose as a team. We fell short,” he said.

“Of course he made mistakes. He did, but we are not blaming him. He will hold his hands up.

“He has been incredible since he got the No 1 jersey. He is young and he will learn from it. He will be a top keeper.

“We have fallen short and there are no words that we can say to Loz that will make it better for him.

“We went around him. We all gave him a hug and tried to lift him.”

Bale became the first British player to score a winner in the European Cup final since Peter Withe in 1982.

The Wales international produced an influential 29-minute cameo after Sadio Mane had quickly levelled following Real’s opener by Benzema .

Bale’s first goal was a sublime bicycle kick and in many ways reminiscent of his manager Zinedine Zidane’s goal which won the 2002 final at Hampden, but his second was pure comedy as Karius let a 30-yard strike slip through his fingers and into the net to seal Madrid’s 13th title – and fourth in five years – as Zidane became the first manager to win three successive Champions League finals.