Football Daily - How to win the Champions League: Liverpool 2019

Episode Date: April 5, 2025

In the latest episode of our mini-series on how to win the Champions League, Andy Robertson and Alisson look back on Liverpool’s win in the 2019 edition.They talk us through the dramatic run through the group stages and the iconic semi-final comeback against Barcelona. We get insight into how Jurgen Klopp inspired his team to win the tournament, why he was a father-figure to the squad and what it was like to receive a Klopp hug.They also explain why it was so emotional on the pitch after the final victory over Tottenham in Madrid.A BBC iPlayer documentary, featuring exclusive interviews and insight, is available to watch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m00276py/how-to-win-the-champions-leagueEpisode 1: How to win the Champions League: Real Madrid - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kkgywsTIMECODES 02:00 The dramatic run through the earlier rounds, including THAT comeback v Barcelona 11:00 Pre-match ahead of the final – Jurgen Klopp and walking on the pitch 17:00 The emotional scenes after winning the final 21:00 Jurgen Klopp and his relationship with Liverpool

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Welcome to The Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards. This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One like never before. I'm Matt Magendie and thanks to my exclusive access, I'll be getting up close and personal with Red Bull Racing this season. This week, Matt will take you on a deep dive into race strategy. He speaks to members of the Red Bull team that probably wake up in a cold sweat shouting, Box, box!

I still get nervous before a race All it takes is one safety car up in odd time and it completely changes the complexion of things Experience F1 like never before by tuning into the inside track wherever you get your podcasts Hello, welcome to the latest episode in our mini-series on how to win the Champions League. Today we're going to be looking at another of the competition's most successful clubs, Liverpool – specifically, their win in the final in 2019 when they beat Tottenham in Madrid. It was their sixth win in the competition, a first European trophy for them under Jurgen Klopp.

He would then lead them to a first league title in 30 years the following season. So you'll hear from two of the starting eleven that day, goalkeeper Alisson and first defender Andy Robertson, who tells us about how Jurgen Klopp picked the side up after they'd been beaten by Real Madrid in the final 12 months earlier. Obviously that year I don't think anyone in Europe expected us to be in the final. We probably expected it, we were kind of the first year back in the Champions League and I think we

obviously built momentum throughout the campaign and built confidence throughout the campaign but we learnt a lot that final, you could tell Real Madrid were probably more ready for it than us, more experience of course because of the amount of times we've won it but yeah look the game was decided on fine margins. And I think we then took a lot from that. And we knew that if we ever got back here, then that's what we had to change. The fine margins had to be perfect to go and try and win it.

And I think that was the start of our journey to go and win trophies, because we got the feeling of being in finals. And we wanted that feeling more and I think that really pushed us on to doing it next season. And now the group stages of 2018-19 were quite difficult and nervy. How confident was the dressing room after the knockout ties against Bayern Munich and Porto? You really started to play with confidence it seems during those knockout stages.

Yeah obviously the group stage, we all got a tough group as well and it was really hard to get through that with PSG and Napoli and obviously Alisson made a big save which is probably historic now but then when you go into knockout stages, over two legs I think we backed ourselves against anyone, we really believed that over two legs especially if the second one was at Anfield or whatever, then we could beat anyone and I think we had that confidence throughout that whole season. Obviously in other competitions we done that really well as well and I just think when we were playing against even I think we drew 0-0 against Bayern Munich at home, we still believed

that we could go to the Allianz and win which is never an easy place to go but I think we went into that game full of confidence and I think you've seen that within the performance that night. It was a tough group stage for us against Napoli, PSG and Red Star. In the last game we had to win. If we didn't win that game we were out from the competition and more score goal. And then we had that moment at the last couple of minutes as you said. It was a save that I didn't have to think too much about what to do, I just reacted on the moment. And I'm glad that I could make that save to help the team. It was a special moment for myself, but for the team. And always when you win something, it makes all the moments even more special.

And winning the trophy, I think, makes that save really special, not only for myself, but for all my teammates and for all the supporters. Could you take me back to the first leg of the semi-final against Barcelona? Tell me about Messi's performance. Why was it such a tough match, the first leg? Yes, because I think it's hard to say because we got beat 3-0, but I think we actually played really well that game in terms of the amount of shots we had, the possession we had in the new camp against a pretty special Barcelona team but they were ruthless on the night and you know when you look back on the game probably as a whole performance Messi was relatively quiet but he does what he does

and he pops up in the big moments, the free kicks, you know probably one of the best free kicks I've seen live especially and he was always involved in all the goals that they'd scored and all the chances they created and that's what the best in the world do and he was certainly that on that night but I think we still went into the changing room after it thinking we've created chances here, we've played a relatively good game, okay it's going to be ridiculously tough to turn this around but we believed that we could win at Anfield, whether that was going to be enough to get us through, we didn't know, but we believed we would win the game at Anfield and it just depended if we could get enough goals to get back in the tie.

No, no, I didn't feel it was over because the way we played, we played a really good game that night, even though Messi was inspired and scored two goals and all that Barcelona side was really, really strong. But the way we played there at Camp Nou at their home ground, for me that result was not fair. As soon as the game finished we went to the changing room, we agreed on that. Everybody had the same feeling. Of course, we were really disappointed

because of the result. But somehow we had small percentage maybe of belief. And I think the manager was really smart in the way that he could make it grow inside of ourselves, coming to the second leg. Straight after the game was very similar to what I've just said. I think he says, lads, we can beat them at Anfield. Now we've given ourselves a really tough challenge in terms of how, you know, being 3-0 down, but it wasn't a 3-0 game and we did all feel that. And yeah,

okay, maybe straight after the game a part of us thought, okay, it's not going to be this year, you know, we've got to a semi-final, okay, we wanted more. But, you know, I think from the week, from the away leg to the home leg, I think the belief just started to build and build and build. And like I says, I think we believed we could win the game

and we wanted to get an early goal in the home leg and see where it took us. And I think you could see that how fast we started. The crowd were ready for us and we were ready in the changing room. And yeah, look, the manager's message was pretty clear. Probably not many people would give anyone a chance, never mind being 3-0 down. But the fact that yous are all sat in front of me, I believe in all of you and go out and show us. And I think we did that and I think we, like I said, we just wanted to win the game at home and obviously it turned out to be a

pretty special night. The supporters, they know when we need them in that night. we needed them really hard. But also, I think, our attitude on the pitch, the way we played, the desire that team always have, day in, day out. Every game, the way we approach the games were special. And I think the way we play we bring the the atmosphere together with us and the supporters they came along scoring the first goal, happened a lot, helped a lot and then not conceding keeping the clean sheet, scoring the second and then everybody starts to have the feeling, it's possible, it's possible that crazy thing happened.

I've never been in a noisier dressing room before, you know before kick-off, how pumped up everyone was, how focused everyone looked and everyone just looked so set on what we had to do that night and look it's easy for us to say now because we won 4-0, but genuinely our plan was to win the game. And especially win the first half, be ahead in the first half and then second half, shooting towards the Kop, we knew we could go for it. And obviously that worked out as soon as we got the early goal.

I think we scored in maybe the seventh or eighth minute with Divock. I think at that moment the belief around the stadium was unbelievable, even though we were still 3-1 down, the belief was that this was going to be a historic night. I think we felt that on the pitch and then we wanted to, I suppose, not let the people down for a historic night. I think you've seen that fight from all the players on the pitch and it ended up being one of the best nights in Champions League history. We were never down in the fight and I think that was always, when we were at our best, that was always what we were good at. So many late goals, so many comebacks and things like

that and it's because we never stopped believing. If we were 1-0 up still on the 90th minute against them we would have believed we could have got two goals in four steps of time. We just wanted to keep pushing, keep pushing, keep pushing. At half time that was the message again from the manager. He says we've got less time but we're closer than we were at the start of the game with having the first goal. The second half the lads started like a house on fire. They were unbelievable. They created chances, they forced unbelievable players into so many mistakes and I think then the crowd just fed off that and I think

then they allowed the other team to feed off that. I think they started to get nervous and like I said make mistakes that probably they don't usually make and I think then we thought okay we've got them here, we just need the goals to prove it. And thankfully, Ginny and Divock popped up with the goals that we needed. Welcome to The Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards. This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One like never before. I'm Matt Magindy and thanks to my exclusive access I'll be getting up close and personal with Red Bull Racing this season. This week Matt will take you on a deep dive into race strategy. He speaks to members of

the Red Bull team that probably wake up in a cold sweat shouting box, box. I still get nervous before a race. All it takes is one safety car over an odd time and it completely changes the complexion of things. Experience F1 like never before by tuning into the Inside Track wherever you get your podcasts. All it takes is one safety car of an odd time and it completely changes the complexion of things. Experience F1 like never before by tuning into the inside track wherever you get your podcasts. The Premier League review on the Football Daily. I'm Darren Fletcher and don't miss the Premier League review on the Football Daily every

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Who knows what's arrived in the inbox? The Premier League review, only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. The Football Daily podcast. With Steve Crossman. Welcome back to How to Win the Champions League. We're looking at Liverpool's win in the 2019 season after that amazing comeback against Barcelona. Liverpool have reached the final against Tottenham in Madrid. So how did Jurgen Klopp motivate his side ahead of that final? I enjoyed to be in that stage playing in the Champions League final. It was a dream, dream's kid becoming truth. But of course Jurgen was always

clinical on the words that he used before the matches. I think he had this natural talent to set everybody on fire for the game. I remember that he had a few speeches on the pre-seasons that on the first day when we came along together that he somehow makes me always wants to to be ready to play for in the next game and it wasn't different in the in the match days always saying the right words, helping the team somehow not only with the tactics but with the motivation awards if that even was necessary in the Champions League final. You obviously look before the finals you obviously have open training sessions and things like that

and the cameras are everywhere so it was short and sweet but I always remember it we were always in a big group and I think he brought all the staff in as well and he says he just says simply, he was like have a look around the stadium because this is where you win the Champions League. And I think we all went into the end of the session like that was so short but when I think about it it still gives me goosebumps and I think all the lads are the same and just being able to have that thought in your head of, okay this is where we achieve history, this is where all our dreams come true and I think we just took

that into the next day. For the Champions League final, looking about the hotel during the day, we were all very calm which was very different from maybe the year before because we had that experience and it was just as if we wanted to wait we just wanted to fast forward to night time to get the game going because we believed there was nothing going to step in our way and I think you know I think our performance and especially our start showed that. I think it was a common sense that the way we reached the final overcoming Barcelona overcoming the group stage we were really confident that we were gonna win that game not only because of our quality but because of

the journey, because how much we showed that we wanted to be champion and that day was really special against a tough opponent against a Tottenham that did a really special, had a really special moment at the the semi-final as well. The way they reached the final was special for them as well I think they maybe they had the same belief that we did and somehow we could could make it we won the final, special game, special performance, special memories. You've got the time between your league finishing and the Champions League final at that time,

I think we had about two weeks or whatever it was, and you have your game plans, you have how you want to go about your business, but then obviously everything kind of changes when you go 1-0 up in the first minute, and that's only natural because then you've got something to defend, which we never had, you know, and it's obviously such an early goal and then, you know, kind of, it probably, for Tottenham it was like, okay, well we're losing now, we've got, you know, we've got nothing to lose, we need to push for it and I think, and I think that's why, you know, people say maybe we didn't play

well in the game or whatever, but, you know, I think I always disagree with that, I think that's why people say maybe we didn't play well in the game or whatever, but I think I always disagree with that. I think it was such a controlled performance by us, such a professional performance by us, we managed to get the lead so early on. And then, okay, talking about some chances, but I don't really remember them having any massive chances and I think that was credit to Ali and the defence and also the midfield working so hard that day and I think we believed that we'd keep would keep a clean sheet was just about whether we could get the goal and because we got it so early then you know it made us give us something to defend and I think we defended it with our life and then thankfully the hero of that season, Divock, comes on and

you know just relieves all pressure for the last five, ten minutes because you know he puts us 2-0 in front and I think that's when the emotions really started. You know, for the first time you probably thought, OK, now I'm a Champions League winner and the game wasn't ended and things like that and you had to kind of jump in between that and focus but also it was OK letting your emotions run away with it and I think just when the final whistle went, obviously then the emotions came to head and yeah, it was an unbelievable night for all of us. The football player, we come every day here, we train so hard, we have our goals for the season

but we have personal life as well and all of these kind of things, all these other side of our lives affect a lot what we can do or we cannot do on the pitch and sometimes difficult moments that we are going through they become like a fuel for our careers because we don't play only for ourselves, we play for our families as well, we play for our parents, wives, kids. We represent them on the pitch and I believe that was the case with him and this is still the case with me as well. I'm there not only, I'm not only Alisson Becker but I'm the Becker family on the pitch representing my parents, everything, the hard work they did. For me the help they did, they gave me to become a football player. The sacrifices they have to do, our families they sacrifice a lot, time.

They don't have so much time with us because we are here, but they understand all these kind of things and they are part of it. They know that I try to make them understand that they are really playing with me together on the pitch, my wife, my kids and my mum, all my family. It was kind of a memorable embrace between Jurgen and Jordan Henderson. Could you describe why the victory was so important to both Jordan and Jurgen? Well I think for the boss, I think he'd been to quite a few finals and got beat in terms of Champions League with Dortmund, obviously Champions League beforehand and I think maybe he'd been beaten a couple of cup competitions with Dortmund or whatever and he was, I think

maybe he was close to the league maybe as well whereby Munich had pipped him. So I think this was his first major trophy and I think the way everyone thought of Jurgen Klopp as a manager, he deserved that major trophy and I think maybe just the emotions then of that got the better of him which is made for an iconic video, an iconic picture and I think, you know, maybe just the emotions then of that got, you know, got the better of him, which is made for an iconic video, an iconic picture. And I think Hendo as well, you know, obviously being the captain and being able to lift the trophy first and everything, it's that little bit more special. And I think Hendo struggled to probably process that. And I think just all these, I think just these tears and emotions just got,

you know, we're all there to be seen. And I think it's in a really emotional time, you know, and it's, I think we were all like that but for the two, you know, kind of leaders on that day, I think it's always that bit heightened for them and yeah, I think they just, you know, they were just what everyone else was feeling but maybe we didn't, or maybe we showed it away from the cameras as much or maybe we didn't, you know, show it as much but it as much but it was just more elation for us, we were so happy just celebrating with the fans and celebrating with our family and it's always, you know, embraces with my family that I'll always remember and it's always something that I look back on with

a big smile on my face. I think both they gave their life for the club. Henderson, as a captain, as a leader, he gave so much for us, of himself. Being an LFC captain is not only wearing an armband, it means so much. And being manager for LFC is not being the coach it's something in a different level and both of them they gave their all we all in our way we gave our all but as leaders of the boat of the ship they gave they gave so much. I think that was a cry of relief, satisfaction

and a feeling that the job was done. We accomplished and we get to the peak of the mount. Very quickly, where's your winner's medal and what does that medal mean to you? Yeah, look, it means everything to me. You know, I mean, I've got two runners-up medals, which, you know, the first runners-up medal was, I always remember it when I got beat in the final before.

You know, I was kind of not really wanting anything to do with it, and you know, all my mates and all my family and that were like, you know, you finish second, this is so important and things, and I was kind of not really wanting anything to do with it. And all my mates and all my family and that were like, you finish second, this is so important and things. And I was like, no, I don't see it like that. But now I can appreciate that one because obviously got the winners one to follow on you. And yeah, it means everything to you.

When you look at it, it just brings back so many good memories of the week leading up to it, of the game, of the parade after it. And it just, when I it, of the game, of the parade after it and it just, you know, when I always look at the medal it just brings, you know, such a, you know, so many happy memories back to you and it just brings a big smile to your face and yeah, you know, I'm very fortunate to have one. How would you describe Jürgen? What motivated you to play for him? It's not hard, it's not hard to play for Jurgen. Obviously, he's a motivator. He gets you to run through

a brick wall for him effectively and the good thing is he'll do the exact same for you. I think that was always it. He created that atmosphere that, okay, we had to fight for him but he created an atmosphere that we had to fight for ourselves and we had to fight for our teammates and I think that's what he created. We didn't want to let the person next us down, we didn't want to let even the people that were injured, the people that were on the bench, whoever it may be, we were all in it together and we knew that all of us could make an impact and you've seen that with the players that came off the bench in the final.

Divock, obviously, James Milner came off the bench, was unbelievable, Joe Gomez came off the bench, I think, and kind of shored us all up. So these these players were so important to us, and the players that never came on were so important to us as well. And I think that was down to the manager creating that atmosphere. And, you know, we all win it together. And, yeah, I think that's that's what made it so easy for all of us and the squad at that time. Jurgen was a special manager in my career.

I think I improved a lot as a player under his leadership. He's a natural leader who knows a lot about football, but about how football works as well, not only tactical things, but he's a He's a really smart manager in a way to prepare his teams In the way he wants the team to play And in the first conversation I had with him he was clear about that and what I could I could understand that he was a smart manager, the right manager to work with. And of course the admiration that I have for the job that he did at Dortmund and the job he was doing here at Liverpool just before I joined the team they had reached the Champions League final 17-18 so that was a good

sign that this club was going in the right direction the direction that I wanted for my career. Obviously he's famous for the clop hug. How, he was a bit of a father figure as well. So how did you get the clop hug and what made it so charismatic? Why was he so charismatic? No, I just think he was probably quite a loving person. He was always just going about the training ground giving hugs. The players probably didn't get it as much, maybe just before games

and then if you're coming off in games or whatever. But yeah, I just think that's the person that he was. He wanted to create a good atmosphere, he wanted everyone to feel a part of it at that time. And I think obviously going into the training ground was a good place to go. Everyone, you could see everyone was highly motivated whether that was the players, whether that was the physios, whether that was the chefs, whatever it was, he made you feel important and I think that's what created a really special atmosphere. Everyone was happy going into work and I think that's what made it such a good workplace at that time and yeah, I think he was the head of that and he was a

large factor why that was possible and why that kind of happened? It was always special. I think Jurgen is a special manager and he'll be always special for all the players who played for him because of the way he was. He was so intense and that hug is not only something that you're going to do every game. He really comes in a way that he shows his feelings as well, how proud he was by the time, at the time, from his team, from our performances, from what we did on the pitch. from what we did on the pitch. And as I said before, he always gave his all

on the job. And having his huggings is like your dad coming after the game and saying, well done, my son. He had that figure. Personally for me, I don't know for the other players, but for me. It was always special to have that. In the Champions League final it wasn't different. I think there is footage of him, camera, like hugging all the players. And you can see how he really hugs the players, not only as someone who is under his authority, but like as a father

hugs the son in a private way. It was natural for him to be really passionate and having It was natural for him to be really passionate and having some, not overreactions, but some reactions really intense in a way. And our team had that as well. We were really intense on the pitch. We were hard workers, but we had so much quality. If you look to the players that we had on the pitch, Mo Salah, Bobby Firmino, Mane, Trent still playing, Virgil, each position we had maybe the best of the position at the time, but the way we played with intensity was our main mark I think. If we could say, if we could give the

definition in one word from that team you would I would say intensity but the quality from the players were so high and the tactics, the plan, the technical aspect from from Jürgen is the same thing. If you know what I mean, if you have to define him in one word, we're going to say maybe passion or desire or intensity, but it doesn't take away the aspect that he was a really good manager with the tactics and in the technical aspect as well. Do you miss the hugs? Yeah, I miss him. Special friend.

And who wouldn't want a hug off Jurgen Klopp, right? That was Andy Robertson and Alisson taking us through Liverpool's Champions League win in 2019. There's a documentary on BBC iPlayer where you can hear more from Alisson, Andy Robertson and a whole host of Liverpool supporters and journalists who covered them that season. Just search for how to win the Champions League. We've got one more episode in this series to come. It's next week looking at the multiple Champions League triumphs of a certain Jose Mourinho. Keep an eye out for that on the Football Daily.

From all of us here, thank you for listening. the bloodgate scandal. Tom Williams now receiving attention. It seems so clear that this wasn't real blood. It's out and out cheating. This is a story of lies and deception, conspiracies and cover-ups. There was terror that it could tear the house down. Courtroom drama and secret deals. So obviously a lie. And a human cost that changed lives and careers forever.

Dean Richards is found guilty and banned for three years. I'm Ross Kemp and this is Sport Strangers Crimes Bloodgate. Listen on BBC Sounds. Welcome to The Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards. This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One like never before. I'm Matt Magindy and thanks to my exclusive access I'll be getting up close and personal with Red Bull Racing this season. This week Matt will take you on a deep dive into race strategy. He speaks to members of

the Red Bull team that probably wake up in a cold sweat shouting box, box. I still get nervous before a race. All it takes is one safety car up and odd time and it completely changes the complexion of things. Experience F1 like never before by tuning into the Inside Track wherever you get your podcasts.