The referees that officiated the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid could be heard "singing and partying with a case of beer" after the final whistle, according to Jurgen Klopp's assistant Peter Krawietz.
It was a final full of drama. Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Los Blancos after a Gareth Bale brace helped Zinedine Zidane's side secure their third consecutive Champions League triumph, but it was a host of incidents that grabbed the headlines.
Mohamed Salah landed awkwardly on his shoulder after Sergio Ramos brought him down, and was taken off as a result.
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius then made two key mistakes, including throwing the ball into the path of Karim Benzema, who opened the scoring in Kiev.
Gareth Bale went on to score one of the greatest goals in Champions League history to put the tie to bed.
It was a devastating defeat for the Reds and a year later, Jurgen Klopp's number two, Peter Krawietz, opened up about the "awful" scenes after the full-time whistle.
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“In Kiev, the dressing room was like a sick bay,” Peter Krawietz told The Athletic in 2019. “Imagine that you get in there and one guy has already been to the hospital and is now back, in pain and crying. And then you hear your opponents celebrating.
“And in the dressing room next door, the referees are celebrating as well. I don't know why, but they were singing and partying, with a case of beer.
"For us, it was awful," Krawietz added. "Finding the right reaction is tough. But that's all part of it. You have to show strength and greatness in defeat. And the right reaction.
"Yes, they really hurt us, but they haven't knocked us out. We're down, but it's not over."
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Liverpool will be hoping for revenge on Saturday night when they come up against Real Madrid in the 2022 Champions League final.
After lifting the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this year after penalty shootout wins against Chelsea, the Reds could secure a famous treble in Paris.
Mohamed Salah believes this weekend's final is the perfect chance to exact revenge.
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"If you ask everybody [at Liverpool ], everyone wanted that game," Salah told Sky Sports after their semi-final win against
Villarreal.
"I don't know why we're not allowed to talk about it but I'm ok to talk about it - I wanted that game. I wanted to play Real Madrid before that game [against Manchester City].
"Of course, I'm not giving too much credit to them. They're an unbelievable team with a great coach, great players. When they asked me who I wanted, I said Madrid. It's an easy answer."
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Can Liverpool secure the win on Saturday?
Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Champions League
Jack Kenmare