Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has revealed how the European champions used Mohamed Salah as motivation ahead of their Champions League final win over Liverpool.
Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France in Paris last month to claim a record-extending 14th Champions League title, with Vinicius Jr scoring the winner for the Spanish side.
In the build-up to the match, Salah had spoken about wanting "revenge" for Liverpool's 3-1 defeat to Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final in Kiev, when he was forced off with an injury after being dragged to the ground by Sergio Ramos.
Rodrygo says Madrid used those comments as motivation during training as they prepared for this year's final in Paris.
"When a guy provokes, sometimes you just want to win so you can make fun of them," Rodrygo told the Podpah podcast, as reported by Brasil Edition.
Advert
"In training we used to say 'come Salah, come Salah'… in our head it was already 'we have to win to then make fun of Salah'."
Rodrygo also revealed that Luka Modric rubbed salt into Salah's wounds immediately after last month's victory over Liverpool.
"When the game was over, the Real Madrid players made a runner," added Rodrygo.
Advert
"Liverpool were passing by, Salah was going through a little sad, head down.
"Modric looked at him and said: 'Thank you, Salah, next time you try again.' I started laughing."
Salah was recently crowned PFA Player of the Year after another impressive season for Liverpool, in which he scored 31 goals in 51 games in all competitions.
But the 30-year-old says he would trade that individual accolade for another shot at Madrid.
Advert
"Being recognised by the fans and by the sports journalists in the same season is something special that I will never forget," said Salah.
"I would however give all those personal awards up for a chance at replaying that final, but that is not how football works."
Topics: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Champions League, Football, Mohamed Salah, Rodrygo
Rory O'Callaghan