Spurs’ OG man seeks CL redemption as opposition “trying like animals” ahead of Madrid

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Saturday night’s Champions League final in Madrid is our second in two years, but it’s Tottenham Hotspur’s first-ever outing in the high-stakes, showpiece event.

But at least one Spurs player has been there before. In comments to The Telegraph, Toby Alderweireld, has spoken about losing in the final with Atlético Madrid back in 2014

“The feeling of losing, not winning it, is very hard. I will take this feeling to the final and show I want it more than anyone else,” he claimed.

We doubt the Belgian wants it more than us – the only way he could want it more is as a way of making up for a spectacular, late own goal when we beat Spurs back in March.

Equally, we’ve got last year’s wrongs to right, a sixth cup to add to the collection, and the burning desire to add silverware to Klopp’s glorious reign at Anfield.

We’re more than ready for Saturday night and Klopp will have the Reds poised and eager to do the business in Madrid.

But our opponents will be up for it too; like Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino will want to add a trophy to his time in London to vindicate his mangerial career with Tottenham. Alderweireld, however, has given us a glimpse into what we can expect from the opposition.

“In the last couple of weeks we’ve been trying like animals, you know like positive. We’re trying to give our best every day because that is the way we need to work to be in our best state for the final.”

It sounds like they’ll be keen to get on the front foot against us this weekend, which could play into our hands. If they’re naïve and headstrong that could be something we could exploit on the pitch.

Alderweireld also suggests that Spurs “have quite a mature group… a lot of players have played in really big games, World Cups and stuff like this so we know what to do.”

That said, a Champions League final is a uniquely high-pressure game and one which Spurs lack the pedigree and experience in.

With last year’s experience, plus the Europa League final and the League Cup final under Klopp, this Saturday could be the perfect culmination of those fraught affairs when the Jürgen and the Reds finally lift silverware for the club!

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