Henderson: Klopp and Milner should have lifted the trophy first

Jordan Henderson claims he believed James Milner and manager Jurgen Klopp should have lifted the Champions League trophy last month instead of him.

The Reds skipper hoisted the European Cup aloft following Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Tottenham in Madrid on June 1, cementing his place in the club’s illustrious history.

But the scene could have been very different, had the captain had his way on the night.

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“That night was not about me lifting the trophy,” Henderson said, as quoted by the Echo. “I felt me, Millie and the gaffer should have lifted it together.

“The photo would have meant the same if the manager was lifting the trophy and I was stood behind him. It was more about the team. When I look back and see the faces of the lads, that’s what means more to me.”

“I asked Millie and the gaffer because I felt as though Millie is a big part of the squad.

“I know I wear the armband when I play but he wore it a lot that time as well when I haven’t been playing.

“He is a big part of the dressing room. He is the most experienced player and won a lot of trophies. I feel as though without him it would have been different.

“And what we did that night wouldn’t have been possible without the manager, and I felt as though he deserved to do that. But he said no.”

Vice captain Milner had told Henderson, “If anyone other than you lifts up that trophy they are getting f*** wrestled to the ground” when asked if he’d like to lift it first.

Henderson went on to comment on the now-iconic shots of him embracing his father on the pitch following the Champions League final win.

“He was made up – he was buzzing,” Henderson said. “Listen, that’s what it is all about.

“I know how much it meant to him and what he’d been through the last few years, so to see him so quickly after we had won – I don’t know how he got down by the side of the pitch! – was a really special moment for me.

“I don’t drink, but when you win the Champions League… I was thinking it is a special occasion, so I’m going to have a good night.

“But honestly I got back to the hotel, and didn’t even think about it. I was just so drained emotionally and physically, I felt as if I wasn’t there. I was like a shell. I was so overwhelmed.

“It was mad. I remember a few of the lads were asking me ‘are you all right?’. But I couldn’t really take it all in.”

The Reds captain concluded with a promise to push on this coming season.

“That’s what we want to do,” Henderson said. “We want to use this win to give us the confidence, to propel us to win even more trophies.

“Winning that trophy will give us a taste that we will want more success in the future. We want to write our own history.

“We don’t want to win one trophy and that’s it. We want to keep going and we will do everything we can to keep that going.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com