Fabinho has claimed that Real Madrid’s Brazilian players were very respectful of him following Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat.
The Reds were beaten 1-0 in May’s Paris final, suffering the heartache of a second final loss against Los Blancos in five seasons. Just days after the game, Fabinho and Alisson Becker joined up with Brazil on international duty.
With several Madrid players in the camp, including match-winner Vinicius Junior, things could have been awkward. But speaking to globo.com, the Liverpool man insisted that that wasn’t the case.
“That final was one of the games that hurt the most in my career, that I felt the most about losing. But we have to turn the page,” said Fabinho. “The Real Madrid players respected us a lot. I even thought there might be a joke or two, but they were very cool, very calm, what happened was a general congratulations to them for having won.
“It’s something normal in football, someone has to win, someone has to tip, unfortunately we were defeated. Vini Junior and Rodrygo are two kids that I take very well, kids who are always joking, always laughing.”
Liverpool given chance for Madrid revenge
After the Brazilian contingent of both teams join up for the imminent World Cup in Qatar, they’ll then face off again.
The last-16 of the Champions League feels a long way off right now. But it’ll soon come around. When it does, Liverpool will be facing another date with their Spanish nemesis.
Things might be cosy between Fabinho and some of Madrid’s stars, but other Reds players may not feel the same.
For instance, if Mohamed Salah had revenge on his mind last season, that feeling will have been heightened again since.
Madrid legend Luka Modric reportedly made some pretty disparaging comments about Mo as Liverpool collected their runners-up medals.
Jurgen Klopp would do well to pin those up in the dressing room come February 21st.
Chances at revenge in football don’t often come around quite as quickly as this. Nothing can really ease the pain that Liverpool’s squad will still feel at losing the final. If they can wipe the smile off Madrid faces in the New Year though, that will be a good start.
For now, Liverpool’s £44m man must make nice with his countryman. When February rolls around though, he’ll need to be at his cynical best.
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