Dirk Kuyt branded Liverpool’s season a failure after their Champions League final defeat (Picture: RTL)
Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt believes his old side’s season must be considered a failure after last night’s painful Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid.
Hopes of an unprecedented quadruple were still alive on the final day of the Premier League campaign just a week ago, but Manchester City’s epic late comeback against Aston Villa rendered Liverpool’s win over Wolves at Anfield immaterial, as Pep Guardiola’s side retained their title by the narrowest of margins.
Still, Liverpool arrived in Paris in justifiably confident mood and largely dominated a final in which Real’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, won a deserved man of the match award for a string of sensational saves.
Liverpool’s players were crestfallen at the final whistle after their defeat against Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)
A season that promised so much, therefore, ended with just two domestic trophies, the Carabao and FA Cups, both won against Chelsea on penalties following goalless draws, as tangible reward for a campaign during which Liverpool have earned significant plaudits.
Reflecting on the defeat, Kuyt, who scored for Liverpool in the 2007 final against an AC Milan side managed by Carlo Ancelotti, told RTL: ‘Liverpool’s season has failed.
‘They played good football but you need to be decisive in May, and they weren’t.’
No revenge for Mo Salah 😔#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/Yp0sU1SA1N
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022
Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, one of the surviving members of the side which lost to Madrid in the final four years ago in Kiev, meanwhile, confirmed the mood in the dressing room was one of devastation.
He said: ‘The dressing room is quiet, devastated. That is what happens when you don’t win finals.
‘We had chances, came up against an unbelievable keeper. Being honest though, we could have played better.
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‘In the second half we didn’t start great and they got hold of the game. When you come up against experienced teams like that they know how to win finals.
‘We are a pressing team, it has worked so much for us but we have been caught back post and that’s football.
‘It is hard to get back in the game playing against against a very experienced team, they know how to see out a game.’
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