'Welcome to Liverpool!' - Adrian's Super Cup victory reaction
Adrian took great satisfaction from helping to secure another piece of silverware for Liverpool after settling the UEFA Super Cup penalty shootout with Chelsea.
The Spanish goalkeeper, who joined the Reds only nine days ago, made his first start in Istanbul on Wednesday night as the Premier League rivals drew 2-2 after extra-time.
And Adrian produced the decisive save from Tammy Abraham in the subsequent shootout, following five successful Liverpool spot-kicks, to clinch the club’s fourth Super Cup triumph.
“Welcome to Liverpool!” he told BT Sport of his whirlwind start. “It was a crazy week but with [my teammates] it’s so easy playing at the back.
“I’m really happy for the team to get the trophy. I’m really happy to play for Liverpool and really happy for the fans because they enjoyed tonight. It was a long game but at the end it was a great finish for us.”
Sadio Mane had equalised Olivier Giroud’s opener at Besiktas Park and then put Jürgen Klopp’s side ahead with a sumptuous finish in extra-time.
But Jorginho soon restored parity from the penalty spot and forced a shootout on a night when conditions posed a difficult challenge for the players.
“It was tough,” said Reds captain Jordan Henderson, who lifted the team’s second trophy of 2019.
“It’s quite humid here, extra-time as well, you could see a lot of the lads were struggling with trying to keep the ball, sloppy passes. You had to try to keep the ball, keep it moving and try to get a breather with the ball. It was a tough game, Chelsea are a good side.
“It’s not a great way to lose, on penalties, like we did in the Community Shield. But thankfully we won this one and I’m delighted for Adrian, who has obviously just come to the club and is the hero tonight.”
Liverpool will be back in action on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Southampton in the Premier League their immediate focus once the Super Cup celebrations have concluded.
“We need to recover, we’ve got a big game on Saturday,” added Henderson.
“We’re delighted to win, we want to win as many trophies as we can, we’ve said that before. We’re delighted to come here and win a trophy and take it back. We’ve got to enjoy it now but [then] focus on recovery for a big game on Saturday.”