The reaction from the Real Madrid and Liverpool camps has been drastic to the events of the night of May 28, when the former beat the latter 1-0 to win their 14th UEFA Champions League trophy.
Thibaut Courtois’s contribution to Real Madrid’s Champions League title will not be forgotten anytime soon. The goalkeeper made nine stops to keep opponents Liverpool at bay at Stade de France, many of which were barely believable on the first watch.
Speaking after the game, the Belgian claimed that his motivation to win the competition was clear – he wanted people to put respect to his name.
The 30-year-old even revealed he was also motivated to prove his doubters wrong following his omission from the list of top 10 goalkeepers by an English publication in March of this year.
“Today I needed to win a final — for my career, for all the hard work, to put respect on my name because I don’t think I have enough respect, especially England. I saw a lot of criticism that I was not good enough or whatever,”
he said.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti, was bullish but for different reasons altogether.
On Saturday, the Italian became the first manager to win the Champions League four times – twice with Real Madrid and twice with AC Milan – while leading Real Madrid to their record 14th title in the competition.
“I cannot believe it. I am the record man. It was a difficult game. We suffered a lot more in the first half, but in the second half at the end with all the games we played I think we deserved to win this competition”.
The reaction in the Liverpool camp was significantly different, however. Reeling from the disappointment of losing his second Champions League final in four years, the Reds boss Jurgen Klopp delivered a promise to his club’s faithful supporters.
“Where’s the final next year? Istanbul? Book the hotel,”
the German asked.
Liverpool’s last Champions League win came in 2018/19, the very next season following their heartbreaking loss to Real Madrid in Cardiff in 2018.
