Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson insisted that he is not approaching Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Real Madrid with “revenge” in mind.
The Scottish left-back was part of both Liverpool teams that lost to the Spanish giants in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals. Robertson was also knocked out of the competition by Madrid in the 2021 quarter-finals and the 2023 round of 16.
When the concept of payback was raised ahead of Madrid’s visit to Anfield in the European competition, Robertson told the assembled media: “I don’t really look into owing people one or revenge or anything like that. Both games [in the final] were different.
“I think 2018 was so important for our journey. Nobody really expected us to be in the Champions League final that year, and it gave us the belief that we could compete in the tournament again and go on and then win it the next year, which was so important.
“I think 2022 obviously hurt a lot more at the time; I thought we played well in the game, I thought we dominated the game. Their goalkeeper was Man of the Match, which probably tells you a lot. But they do what they do, there’s a reason why they’ve won the competition the most out of any team.”
Four members of the starting XI which lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in Paris two years ago have since left the club, as well as manager Jurgen Klopp. “I think the squad is too new, I think their squad is too new,” Robertson explained.
“We’re just looking at tomorrow to try to strengthen our position at the top of that table, because we know how important finishing in the top eight can be in terms of seeding for the last 16 and not having a play-off.
“That’s all we’re focused on.”
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