Liverpool player says Reds defeat was one of games which ‘hurt most’ in his career

Liverpool star Fabinho has admitted that defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final was one of the games that hurt him most in his career.

The Reds reached the final of the competition for the second time in three years last season, topping Group B before enjoying wins over Inter Milan, Benfica and Villarreal to make it to Paris.

They met Real Madrid in the final at the Stade de France in good form after a superb run in the second half of the campaign that had seen them competing for a quadruple.

Liverpool headed into the clash with the Spanish giants in good form but were served something of a tactical masterclass by Carlo Ancelotti’s side during it.

Despite dominating the stats, enjoying nine shots on target and being on the attack for much of the game they could not break down a resolute Real Madrid defence, who held on tight to Vinicius Junior’s 59^th minute strike.

It proved to be a frustrating evening for Fabinho and his Liverpool teammates, who lost to Madrid despite comfortably being the better side in it, something the midfielder admits still hurts to this day.

“That final was one of the games that hurt the most in my career, that I felt the most about losing, but we have to turn the page,” he told GE Globo.

“The Real Madrid players respected us a lot, I even thought there might be a joke or two, but they were very cool, very calm, what happened was a general congratulations to them for having won.

“It’s something normal in football, someone has to win, someone has to tip, unfortunately we were defeated.

“Vini Junior and Rodrygo are two kids that I take very well, kids who are always joking, always laughing.”