ADDICTED TO TROPHIES
Lallana: We are European champions and to win the Club World Cup.. there’s not many who can say that
ADAM LALLANA says Liverpool have become “addicted” to winning trophies.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are 90 minutes away from achieving something not even the great Liverpool teams of the 1970s and 80s did by winning the Club World Cup.
They have won the European Cup six times but never been crowned the best club team in the world and that is the prize along with revenge when they face Brazilian side Flamengo in tomorrow’s final.
Liverpool boss Klopp has brought a patched-up team to Qatar with players injured, rested and rotated which has opened the door for Lallana to play a key role.
But what remains the same throughout the squad is the enduring never-say-die spirit and determination which Lallana believes will help the club carry on winning silverware.
Klopp won his first trophies as Liverpool manager in 2019 with the Champions League (right), followed by the European Super Cup and Lallana reckons that is just the start.
Lallana said: “It’s like an addiction, you win one medal and you want to win another. You want to win more.
“It’s massive. We are European champions and to be Club World champions – there’s not many people who can say that. We are going to give it our all.
“Of course it is an added incentive that it’s not been done before. Another trophy is up for grabs so bring it on.”
Lallana has played a key role in Liverpool’s season as he scored the late leveller at Manchester United to preserve their unbeaten run and is now a central figure in the Middle East.
Despite resting players and rotating his squad, no-one should underestimate Klopp’s desire to win this trophy and make history.
Back in 1981, the great Liverpool team featuring the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Mark Lawrenson, lost 3-0 to Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup and now this rematch represents the dream final between the best of Europe and South America.
Liverpool only just scraped through against Monterrey in the semi-final but their spirit shone through with Roberto Firmino’s stoppage-time winner and Lallana says that quality runs deep and will be key to beating Flamengo.
“We’ve not got the biggest squad and we had Jordan Henderson at centre-half, I thought he was magnificent,” said Lallana.
“That is all part of the character and the mentality and why we keep churning out late winners. The lads we have in this team, coming off the bench, it’s a squad game.
“The manager has spoken to me and told me: ‘Be patient, keep training the way you’re training.’ I think that was before the United game and obviously I came on during that game and had an impact straight away. “We are Liverpool Football Club, European champions. I’ve been fit all year, I’ve contributed at times. I’m in a great place, I’m enjoying my football and getting rewarded with games now. “If we are going to be successful this year we are going to need every member of this squad and being successful is winning this competition, going for the league, being successful in the Champions League.
“There are games every three days. You can’t churn out the same team every time. At times it may be frustrating when you’re maybe not getting the game-time you want but you get your reward for training hard.
“But listen, we’re unbeaten in God knows how many games and it’s just great to be fit and being part of winning those games every week.”
The chance to write a new chapter of history for Liverpool is also driving them on. Traditionally, European teams have not taken the competition as seriously as the South Americans but that has changed since 1981 when the Reds lost to Flamengo.
“That was before my lifetime,” laughed Lallana. “It will be nice to get one back, we are here in a final so let’s go for it.”