Jordan Henderson reveals importance of 2016 Europa League final loss
Jordan Henderson reveals Liverpool’s 2016 Europa League final defeat by Unai Emery’s Sevilla is a night that ‘sticks out’ after Jurgen Klopp called the squad together as Liverpool manager ‘knew it was just the start’
- Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has recalled the 2016 Europa League final
- The Reds were beaten 3-1 by Unai Emery’s Sevilla side in showpiece in Basle
- Henderson reveals defeat signalled the starting point for future success for club
- Emery takes his Villarreal side to Anfield in Champions League on Wednesday
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has picked out their Europa League final defeat by Unai Emery’s Sevilla six years ago as the start of ‘something special’.
The midfielder was asked about the match ahead of Unai Emery facing Liverpool once again, this time with Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals.
The Reds were well beaten as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the end of Jurgen Klopp’s first season in charge, but Henderson revealed it’s a night that ‘sticks out’ for the way his manager reacted and signalled the starting point for future success.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson spoke to media on Tuesday ahead of Champions League clash
‘Went back to my hotel room and wanted to get my head down but the gaffer had us all downstairs and we spent the night [as a squad] together,’ he recalled in his press conference on Tuesday.
‘He knew what was to come in the next few years. That always sticks out. Beginning of something special.
‘We’d just lost the Europa League final so it was difficult to see past that but that’s why it stuck because the manager was different. He knew it was just the start and that translated to the players. That day always sticks out for me for sure.’
He picked out Europa League final loss to Sevilla in 2016 as the start of ‘something special’
Three years after suffering heartbreak in Basle, Henderson had his hands on Europe’s top prize as Klopp guided Liverpool to Champions League glory.
Twelve months later and the Reds ended their 30-year wait for a top-flight title by winning the Premier League in the 2019-20 season as Klopp brought back success to Anfield.
Henderson said he sensed ‘something special’ was on the horizon when Klopp took charge in October 2015 and disclosed that his boss did not let the agony of a final defeat disrupt his vision.
‘I felt there was something special [happening] as soon as the manager come in. The whole lift he gave the club. But it’s tough when you lose a European final but the manager saw the bigger picture,’ he said.
Unai Emery, who was a Sevilla at the time, takes his Villarreal side to Anfield on Wednesday
Liverpool are looking to claim their seventh European Cup this season and welcome Villarreal in the first leg of the last-four clash on Wednesday.
Klopp vowed not to underestimate the underdogs after they knocked out Juventus and Bayern Munich to get to this stage of the competition and his skipper affirmed that message.
‘They’re a very good team. They have beaten Juve and Bayern and have an experienced manager. So it’s a really tough test as any CL semi would be,’ he said.
‘We’ll have to be at our best.’
The Reds travel to Spain for the return leg next Tuesday, following their trip to Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday.
Share this article
Source: Read Full Article