The events of the night are ingrained in Jordan Henderson’s mind. Before he can broach the all-consuming subject of Real Madrid, there is a need to revisit Liverpool’s most recent European final. For a man who has experienced his share of difficulties in football, May 18, 2016 left scars.
It had the potential to be the best moment of his professional life. Henderson had overcome knee ligament damage to force a way back into the matchday squad and in the last training session before facing Sevilla in the Europa League final, Liverpool’s captain had been the standout performer.
It was not enough to convince Jurgen Klopp to select him in his starting line-up. To make matters worse, as the game slithered from Liverpool’s grasp, the manager never considered introducing him. Henderson will not say that decision embarrassed him but, privately, it left him enraged.
Jordan Henderson, ahead of the Champions League final, remembers his last European final
Henderson was an unused substitute as Sevilla beat Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League final
Henderson admits he was scarred by that night – but since then he and Liverpool have changed
Back at the Novotel City Hotel, Liverpool’s base in Basle, a party to mark the end of the season had been organised but Henderson was in no mood to talk. He sat at a table with his closest friends in the squad – Adam Lallana, James Milner and Danny Ings – sipping water and festering on what had happened.
Then, around 2am, Klopp gathered everyone on the dancefloor. He gave a speech, which came from the heart. He told the throng that it was OK if they were ‘feeling like s***’ but to remember one thing: ‘We are Liverpool.’
Klopp’s words were such that they managed to make an impact. Henderson might not have been especially enamoured with the German at that moment but he knew this was a line in the sand moment. The club for whom he had played for five years was about to undergo a revolution.
Henderson is now very much Liverpool’s leader and will guide the team in Kiev on Saturday
‘It’s the worst feeling ever,’ Henderson says, taking up the story. ‘It hurt so much that all you wanted to do was go home and switch off for a few days. The manager, after the game, was really down. But when we got back to the hotel, he had something different about him.
‘He looked at the bigger picture and the future and he felt as though it could be a big moment in our careers. He told us he wanted us to learn from the experience and if we got to another final we’d be ready. At that moment, I sensed he could see this was going to be the start of something for us.
‘He had this vision and confidence that we would get to another final. You learn from experiences like that as best you can. I definitely remember that night, of course I do. But I think you can see how he has taken the team forward since then. It has been fantastic, really.’
If Klopp has changed Liverpool in the past two years, it is fair to say that Henderson has also changed in that period. You can see he feels comfortable in this situation, holding court at the city’s Hope Street Hotel, looking every inch this squad’s leader.
Henderson emphasises just how much influence manager Jurgen Klopp has had in two years
Many expected him to be England’s leader in Russia, too, but it was not to be. He has a strong relationship with Gareth Southgate and spoke at length with England’s head coach late on Monday. He has exchanged messages with Harry Kane, too, and assured him he will be there to help.
For the moment, though, the World Cup can wait. Real Madrid is the only subject occupying Henderson’s thoughts. He has dreamed of playing in a Champions League final since his father, Brian, took him to the 2003 edition, in which AC Milan beat Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford.
Club football does not get bigger than this but the thing that strikes you most during this 30 minutes of conversation is how totally unflustered he is by it all. He laughs off the idea that he will not be able to sleep and explains Friday night’s routine will be the same as if this was the second round of the Carabao Cup: some food, a massage, then bed.
‘It is about getting yourself in the right frame of mind and focusing on what you need to do,’ he says. ‘It is a massive game, everyone knows that, but we have to approach the final how we have approached games in the past: the semi-final, quarter-final. Go and play football and play the best we can on the night.’
Henderson is also ready to support England’s World Cup captain, Harry Kane, in Russia
For that reason, he will not consider what might happen if Liverpool – the Champions League’s highest scorers – hit their maximum potential. He will, however, be thinking of that chastening night in Basle and using it as motivation to ensure he never feels that way again.
‘You go through difficult moments and learn,’ Henderson says. ‘It makes you stronger. I just hope we can give everything and be brave.
‘People will say we are the underdogs, and we probably are, but we are ready and we can hurt them. If everybody is at 100 per cent? It gives us a real chance.’