This will be a special occasion for Harry and Cathy Robertson. One to moisten the eye and swell the heart with pride. Even at the age of 86, life still has a capacity for fresh wonder.
On Saturday evening, they will join a television audience measured in the hundreds of millions to watch their grandson, as he aims to carve his name into Liverpool’s rich European history.
Some 1,500 miles away in Kiev, Andy Robertson will be thinking of them. Thinking of the support and love his family have shown him. And striving to make them smile.
Andy Robertson pictured during an open Liverpool training session at Anfield on Monday
This is where the extra reserves of energy will lie when Robertson takes to the field to face down Real Madrid’s aristocratic power.
The first Scot to play in the Champions League final for 21 years, the left-back will be supported by no fewer than 26 family members and friends inside the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
He knows, however, that others would be there if they could roll back the years. Doubtless as stoic a Maryhill man as most of his generation, Robertson’s grandfather has been awash with emotion over this remarkable journey towards club football’s premier prize.
For the 24-year-old, being able to display a winner’s medal upon his return to Glasgow would now represent a glorious conclusion to the season of his dreams.
‘I think we had to force my grand-da not to go,’ smiled Robertson. ‘He was desperate to get a new passport but sadly I just don’t think it was possible for him to make it. He’s maybe a wee bit old for it.
‘But he will be watching at home with my gran and, hopefully, I can make them all proud.
‘I think my grandparents are both 86 and are maybe a bit more fragile than they once were. My grand-da came down to the home leg against Roma in the semi-final. We made the decision then about the final because he burst into tears.
Jurgen Klopp watches on as Liverpool step up their preparations for facing Real Madrid
‘I think that was one of the first times my dad had ever seen him cry. He was crying when we went 5-0 up, so I’m not sure his nerves can quite take it now.
‘But he will be watching. All my dad’s side are having a party. My gran and grand-da will go to it. Hopefully, they can all be proud of me.
‘That’s what will drive me on this Saturday, more so than anything. Hopefully, I can come back and celebrate with them.’
Arranging transport for others around the Robertson clan has been a time-consuming distraction from thoughts of taking on Cristiano Ronaldo and his colleagues.
‘It’s been a shambles, really,’ laughed Robertson, as he relaxed following an open training session at Anfield.
‘Luckily, I managed to get it sorted in the end. The club have put on a flight from Liverpool that takes ten family members per player, which is good of them. So I have ten family on that and the other 16 on a plane behind.
‘They are all looking forward to it but at the start of last week that definitely took my mind off the game! I was a wee bit stressed but it has all been sorted and I don’t need to worry about it.’
Nor does he dwell much upon how he reached this point. Mentioning that Robertson was playing for Queen’s Park in the third division just five years ago has become one of this season’s Twitter clichés.
The man himself has no desire to forget his roots, instead hoping his story has the power to inspire others. But he admits the constant references can be a drag.
It has been a long time since Robertson earned spending-money in Marks and Spencer as he sought to bounce back from being released by Celtic as a 15-year-old.
Robertson will be striving to make his grandparents proud when they watch on TV
‘Don’t get me wrong, I love my past,’ he said. ‘I love the way I played for Queen’s Park and love the fact I played for Dundee United.
‘I love the fact that I’ve now played for four clubs and been successful at them. In those terms, it’s good but when the same stories come up, it’s a bit…
‘Maybe one day people can start seeing what I’m doing now instead of Andy Robertson five years ago.
‘I try to not look back. I don’t know what I’ve done five minutes ago, half the time. I always like to look forward.
‘I was like that at Queen’s Park. If I played well in a game, I wouldn’t look back on it. I’d look forward for the next week and the next game.
‘That’s my mentality. Now I’m looking to the next five years and not back at the last five years.
‘I can’t change the past and wouldn’t want to but it’s now to look forward because I can do something to change my future.
‘When it gets brought up, your shoulders can drop a wee bit. But people shouldn’t think I’m trying to forget about it. I’m not.
‘I always keep in touch with the people at Queen’s Park, for example. If young Scottish kids are looking at me and want to follow the same path, then great, because I want Scottish football to keep moving forward.
‘If kids are trying to become footballers, it can only help us. But in terms of every interview I do, it gets a bit draining.’
It is little wonder that he finds the here-and-now more energising. Robertson was happy to oblige yesterday as camera crews from across the planet wanted a piece of his time.
Robertson leads the celebrations during the quarter-final victory over Manchester City
Once the circus had moved out of Anfield and towards Kiev, it was time to focus on a period of intense preparation ahead of a meeting with a Real side seeking a third successive Champions League title.
‘Before big games, such as Wembley for the play-offs (with Hull City) or Scotland v England, you don’t have a minute to think,’ he said. ‘But afterwards, you do get that wee quiet spot and you can think about what’s happened.
‘Hopefully, this is one we look back on and don’t think: “What if we’d done this, or what if we’d done that?”. This is a game which could, potentially, change all of our lives.’ In truth, the transformation is well underway.
Robertson’s star has already risen so high in Liverpool that discussion of his qualities can, in some quarters, be the natural response to the sound of a Scottish accent. He is now one embodiment of the relentless drive with Jurgen Klopp’s side.
That hero worship brings with it a glare of attention. With all due respect, Merseyside is a different environment in which to live when compared to his time with Dundee United or Hull City. Yet it is one Robertson has warmly embraced.
‘When you walk around town, you get stopped,’ said the 22-cap Scotland international, who has a baby son Rocco with his girlfriend Rachel.
‘The three of us went in on Sunday to do a bit of shopping.There were people looking and asking for pictures but that is part and parcel of it. What is it out of your life to be polite and stop for a picture? One or two seconds?
‘I think it is something most of the lads enjoy because these fans make the club at the end of the day. It is just giving them a small thing back and it won’t stop me from doing anything in or around the city. That’s the way I’ll always be.
‘At any club, it always helps if you have a good relationship with the fans. I’ve been quite lucky that the fans have been brilliant with me from day one here.
‘They support me and the team in everything we have done. But Liverpool fans are different class, with all the players. I’m sure it will be no different on Saturday with the millions of fans watching it.
‘Back here and in Kiev will be quite special. Hopefully, we can allow them to party long into the night.’ Barring any late fitness concerns, Robertson’s place in the starting line-up would seem assured.
Robertson played in just three of Liverpool’s first 15 games but has been rejuvenated since
It was not always so. An £8.5million signing from Hull last July, he played in only three of Liverpool’s first 15 games. More worryingly, he had only been in the match-day squad on three further occasions.
A discussion with Klopp in mid-October offered insight into how he could improve. When the door was then opened by an injury to Alberto Moreno, Robertson marched through. He hasn’t looked back.
‘The manager has been different class for me since the day I came into the club,’ he said.
‘The day I signed, my girlfriend was heavily pregnant and he helped me deal with all of that. He made it easy for us to settle into the club and gave me time when I needed time.
‘Quite a lot of people focus on a chat we had but it’s not as if I went in to see him and we came up with some masterplan, which meant we cracked it. I just wanted to see where I was at and ask him where I could improve.
‘As a player, you often know yourself but there can be one factor which may mean a lot to a certain manager, which you may be missing. It was just seeing what there was and there wasn’t a big factor.
‘Alberto was simply playing well and there were things I knew I needed to improve upon. It was about staying patient and trying not to let that head drop.
‘It’s hard when the squad list goes up on a Friday and your name is not in it, but you just have to try and keep faith. Thankfully, I managed to do that, got my bit of luck and now I’m here today.’