Liverpool is in a buoyant mood ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final as the team trained at Anfield ahead of the clash with Real Madrid in Kyiv.
Defender Dejan Lovren and forward Sadio Mane shared several jokes as they spoke to the media but were also focused on the task in hand, while manager Jurgen Klopp was typically enthusiastic about his side’s journey to the final and their participation in such an event.
Shortly before this gathering, reports emerged suggesting that Emre Can will join Juventus this summer, seemingly confirming the long-time rumours.
A back injury kept the midfielder out of the team for the Champions League quarter and semi-finals, as well as Premier League games as the club looked to secure their place in the top four.
In a bitter blow, this also meant he was not called up by Joachim Löw for Germany’s World Cup squad, having provided a useful option in a couple of positions for his country since making his debut in 2015.
It was, however, a welcome sight to see the 24-year-old training on the Anfield pitch after he had returned to action during the club’s recent training camp in Marbella. He showed signs that his return, even to their depleted substitutes bench, could be just what Liverpool need ahead of their biggest game.
For the player himself it could go some way towards making up for the World Cup disappointment. He'll be determined to end the season, and his time at Liverpool, on a positive note.
Having had over a week without a game the players looked raring to go in this session at Anfield, away from their usual Melwood base, where the world's media watched on in the sunshine.
Afterwards, Lovren spoke about the final being a “dream come true” for himself and his team-mates, but also believes that some of them could experience this again in the future.
“I always dreamed to be in the Champions League and of one day lifting the trophy. We have the biggest chance in our lives, for some the only one, for others it's just the beginning.
“When you go back to playoff against Hoffenheim [last August] and look at our journey, we deserve to be in the final.
“We have nothing to lose. We will give our best in the final. Everyone is fit and ready, and we can’t wait to start.”
Mane chipped in: “We will try our best. Why not win the trophy?” Before his grin beamed around the room.
Lovren believes Mohamed Salah is up there with the best three players in the world, putting him in the same bracket as Lionel Messi, and one of their opponents on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo.
When asked to state which player is more important to their respective teams — Ronaldo or Salah — Klopp refused to answer, saying: “You could write a whole book about the importance of Salah and Ronaldo to their teams, without my say.”
The Liverpool manager commented that Anfield was the definition of the term European night, but now Liverpool will have to do it away from their hordes of followers in the Ukrainian capital.
The city has posed a logistical problem, with fans from both sides struggling for transport and accommodation. Tickets are also hard to come by given the small allocation UEFA gives to fans. Liverpool supporters have just 16,626 tickets for the 70,000 capacity NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium. Lovren says that if he could, he’d have bought all fans a ticket.
Klopp thinks these fans have grown with the team, and knows they will be supporting wherever they are.
“Going to the final we all enjoyed these moments together. If you Google ‘European nights’, the answer must be ‘Anfield’.
"A lot of things have happened since I came in, but the biggest change is how the people changed in the case of how much they like the actual team. Not a lot of people talk about ‘if we had another player.’ That's really nice."
The German refused to confirm or deny the stories reporting Can’s departure, and says the most important thing now is to concentrate on the game.
“Ten days ago I didn't think it was possible for him to do what he did today [in training], and what he did in Marbella already. It's really positive but we have to wait for tomorrow. It’s nice to have him back in the group, he is really desperate to play a part.”
Real Madrid are looking to win their third European title in a row, and go into the game having finished their league season with a draw at Villarreal. Liverpool will have had a week longer to prepare, but Real have the extra experience which many believe will see them triumph on the night.
"It's an advantage to be more experienced, but you can level it with desire, attitude, work rate, and that's what I love in football," said Klopp, and Liverpool will need plenty of these traits which have seen them work wonders to reach the final.
