Striker admits to living a dream

Mane points to lessons learned from last year’s final disappointment

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane celebrated a dream come true after winning the Champions League in Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday.

The Senegal international scored in last year’s final but finished on the losing side in a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid.

He played a huge part 12 months on, winning a penalty in the first 22 seconds to pave the way for a 2-0 win over Tottenham.

“To be honest I think the dream became true. I don’t even know how happy I am, I could not believe until now. I think I’m still dreaming,” he said.

“I think last year was not easy. It was really hard but that’s football. That makes people love football.

“The lesson we learned is in many ways, in many things. We’ve got more experience and at the same time we’re used to playing this type of game. That made it easier.”

Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri finished his first season with the club on a high with a second Champions League title.

His first came with Bayern Munich in 2013 but 12 months ago, while the Reds were being beaten by Real, he was contemplating life in the Sky Bet Championship after relegation with Stoke City.

“I bring the winning mentality, eh?” he joked.

“It’s amazing to give the fans what they deserve. This club deserves everything, the staff, everyone involved.

“This club needs to win titles, and it’s a good start to win this one.

“Now next year we are going to go again and try to win the Premier League. That’s my big dream, to win the Premier League with this club.

“You can see that we have a great squad with great quality. Even if a player is not playing or he’s injured, the quality is still there.

“It’s not enough to just have good players, we have very good guys off the pitch too. You can only win titles if you are close and work well together.

“We are a very good team and we work hard together every day. I hope we can go on, this is just the start and we can win many more titles.

“We are number one in Europe, so let’s enjoy this time.”

Forward Mohamed Salah admitted he used a photograph of his tearful Champions League final of 12 months ago to inspire him to return and win the trophy for the first time.

Salah’s evening in Kiev last year ended after half-an-hour when he sustained a shoulder injury.

It was a pivotal moment in the match and one the 26-year-old was keen to remind himself of for extra motivation when they came up against Tottenham.

“I looked at the picture from last year before the game,” said Salah, who scored the opening goal from the penalty spot.

“I was very disappointed that I got injured and went out after 30 minutes and we lost the game. It was something to motivate me to win.

The Egyptian said he believed in fate and felt he would achieve something special this time around.

“Yeah, of course. Absolutely. Our job is more mental and you have to believe in yourself before the game,” he said.

“I think everything happens for a reason and the reason for us to lose the final last season was to come back and win it again.

“It’s great. The final of the Champions League, take a penalty, show the courage and to win the trophy.

“We were a little bit disappointed after the final (last year) and now we are back and have won it again, the sixth time for Liverpool, it is something great.”

Virgil van Dijk believes the Madrid triumph is just the start for this group.

Having fallen a point short of a first league crown since 1990, Klopp’s men ended the season in style and the Dutchman is keen for more.

“I think we should be hungry anyway,” the former Celtic defender said. “But this season with Liverpool ended today, we got the Champions League.

“It’s something that we definitely wanted but I think in July when we start again everyone starts at zero.

“Everyone is working towards their goals and obviously we want to challenge for every trophy if possible. We have the squad for it.

“Hopefully we can challenge Man City again next season for the title because I don’t think they will go anywhere, but we will go nowhere either.

“To be two years in a row in the Champions League final is something we hope to be every year, but we know how difficult it is to reach it.

“But we are all ambitious. We all want to have these nights a couple of times a year.

“So, let’s just go for it, work hard, stay humble. That’s the only way forward.”

Skipper Jordan Henderson was full of praise for manager Klopp, telling BT Sport: “Without the manager this isn’t possible.

“What he’s done since he’s come to this football club is unbelievable, not only the players that he’s brought in to make the squad stronger, the players that were already here he’s made better.

“He’s created a special dressing room, so all the praise and everything goes to the manager.”

“

To be honest I think the dream became true. I don’t even know how happy I am, I could not believe until now. SADIO MANE

Scotland captain and former Dundee United full-back Andy Robertson holds the trophy aloft after Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe for a sixth time.