Press conference'We feel we deserve to be here' - Trent and Robbo's UCL final preview
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have spoken of their determination to capitalise on the ‘privilege’ of being in another Champions League final.
The full-back pair, winners of the competition in 2019, faced the world’s media at Stade de France on Friday afternoon to preview Liverpool’s showpiece encounter with Real Madrid.
Read on for a summary of what they had to say during a pre-match press conference…
Trent Alexander-Arnold
On potentially becoming a double Champions League winner at the age of 23...
Yeah, I mean, to even be in with a chance of winning a second Champions League title at this young age is special for me, I think, as it is for everyone. There's been many, many legends of the game that haven't had these opportunities, so to be here is a privilege for me, but I think it goes without saying we’ve got a world-class opponent standing in our way tomorrow as a team, so we need to be all at it to even be close to lifting that trophy again.
On whether the occasion feels like ‘just another big game’…
I think you can try your best to say it’s just another big game, but everything that comes around it, you know, the press conferences, the media days, training on the pitch and stuff like that. It's something that we don’t do regularly, so there's things different about the game, but I think we embrace these occasions. These are the ones, you know, when you’re working hard behind the scenes, these are the occasions that are in your mind and that's what makes you go that step further. So, for us, no, we're excited to be here. I think we feel like we deserve to be here. We haven’t got here through luck. We've had a tough run. We had an incredibly tough group stage, and we've been able to see off all our opponents so far. But, like I said before, there's one more game; last game of the season for us as a team and as a club. It's the special game, it's the one that everyone wants to play in, it's the special competition, it's the game of the season. So, to be here is good, but to win it would be even better.
On whether he is looking forward to the test of facing Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid...
Absolutely. The whole occasion I’m looking forward to. I think when you’re playing against Real Madrid, you expect to come up against world-class players, which I think every single one of us will be doing tomorrow. There will be battles all over the pitch. We’ve got a game plan, we’ve got our plans around how we're going to deal with all the threats that they pose. As for Vinicius himself, he’s an outstanding player and he’s shown that this season, especially with his goals, assists and his threats. He's an exciting player to watch but I think tomorrow we understand as a team we’ve got a job to do as individuals, as a collective, [and] as a group to go out there and win. The individual battles will be a part of that, but it's a team game and the team wins at the end of the day.
Andy Robertson
On the prospect of replicating Alan Kennedy, who netted the winner for Liverpool in the 1981 European Cup final against Real in Paris...
I’ve not given it any thought at all, to be honest. I think Mo got it spot-on on Wednesday, as long as Hendo has got his hands on the trophy, then I don’t really care what happens, to be honest. Obviously we've got a fantastic opponent ahead of us. If I do score, so be it, it will be a collector’s item and it doesn't happen very often. If it happens, then so be it. But I've not had a thought about that. All I’ve been thinking is trying to give the best version of myself in the game, and if we all do that then that gives us the best possible chance to win.
On whether the defeat by Real Madrid in Kyiv in 2018 is in the players' minds and the mental demands of this season...
In terms of the Kyiv game, not really. I think we righted that wrong for ourselves in Madrid the following season when we won the Champions League. That was us kind of getting revenge on the competition as such and becoming winners for the first time. I think the Kyiv game is long in the past now for all of us and we're just focused on this final. Of course, it's Real Madrid and people bring it up, but we just focus on trying to win this game. We want to win the trophy. When you get to the final, you’re so close but it's the hardest hurdle to get over. Hopefully we can be the ones celebrating. In terms of the mental fatigue, it’s the biggest game in world football, so I don't think we'll struggle. We've had a full week's preparation. Obviously Sunday was disappointing from all points of view, it was an emotional rollercoaster, but [on] Monday we let ourselves feel bad about it, have all the feelings about it. And then Tuesday morning, we were all good to go, spring in our step and ready for a massive game tomorrow.
On the different players that have played in front of him this season...
We’ve got quality up and down the squad. I think we’ve shown that with making changes, things like that, but the mentality and everything like that stays the same. We've shown that this season. I've had a couple of people in front of me and they're all different, they all play the role slightly different. It's just about trying to adapt to that. I’ve had a good relationship with all of them in different games – and the same with Trent if other people have been playing ahead of him. That's what happens when you’ve got quality in your squad – you make changes to the team that don’t weaken it in any way. It's just different partnerships and relationships all over the pitch. We've been pretty good at it this season, not losing rhythm by changing too many or anything like that. All the lads have been completely focused, stayed in their rhythm and I think that's why we've had a good season in terms of winning more games than obviously not.
