Champions League: Liverpool celebrate reaching the final – videos and reaction

Jurgen Klopp’s side edge

Jurgen Klopp’s side edge past Roma and will
now face Real Madrid in Kiev

One-Minute Read

There were some nervy moments in the second half when the
Italians threw everything they had at their visitors in search of
the goals they needed, but in truth they never looked like
reproducing their heroics of the previous round against Barcelona
after conceding an early goal to Sadio Mane.

Roma equalised soon after when James Milner put the ball
into his own net but Gini Wijnaldum made it 2-1 to the Reds on 25
minutes and from that moment the home fans sensed it wasn’t to be
their night.

Roma did score three more goals, through Edin Dzeko on 52
minutes and two from Radja Nainggolan in the closing minutes,
including a penalty with virtually the last kick of the
match.

The final scoreline on the night flattered the hosts, who
over the two legs were clearly inferior to a Liverpool side who
will meet Real Madrid in Kiev on 26 May for what is their eighth
appearance in a Champions League final.

Their last was in 2007, when they lost to Milan, the side
they beat two years earlier when they claimed the last of their
five Champions League titles.

“We never do it the easy way unfortunately,” admitted
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. “We knew it was important to
score and get one early on. We were unlucky with their first goal
but overall we have to be happy with what we have done over the two
legs.

“We could have done better in this game but we’ve made it
through to the final… overall we handled the situation well apart
from the last ten minutes. We need to stop that but I’m delighted
we’re in the final.”

Liverpool still have a fight on their hands to finish in
the top four of the Premier League and qualify for next season’s
Champions League, a fact acknowledged by Henderson when he answered
a question about facing the reigning European champions in
Kiev.

“We have another important game on the weekend against
Chelsea and then we have Real Madrid in the final,” he said. “We
will go there with confidence.”

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson sounded more like a
supporter than a player when he was asked about the
final.

“We’ll have a great day in Kiev whatever the result,” said
the young defender, playing his first season of Champions League
football. “We’ll enjoy this and think about that game another day.
We’ll go in as underdogs but sometimes that can be a good thing.
I’ll certainly enjoy Kiev.”

So will Jurgen Klopp, who joins a small band of managers
who have guided two different clubs to the final of the Champions
League.

Five years ago he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund when
they were beaten by Bayern Munich and now he is boss of the first
English club to appear in a final since Chelsea won the title in
2012.

“It was a little bit exciting – more exciting than I
actually wanted,” reflected Klopp, who said his side were “100%
deserved finalists” although they required a little bit of luck
along the way.

“You don’t come without luck,” he added. “We needed it
only one time tonight. Real Madrid needed luck too. That’s how it
is. The boys deserve it, the mentality, character and football they
showed – it was just crazy.”