Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard said Liverpool performed well to deserve a win in the final but were stopped by a top goalkeeper and a defence that were extremely great.
Gerrard, who played for Liverpool and won the Champions League final against AC Milan in a dramatic duel to extend the Reds’ UEFA title win to five then, noted that the Real Madrid goalie was the best player on the pitch.
The Aston Villa boss whose last Premier League fixture performance almost altered Manchester City’s dream of winning the Premier League 2021-22 title in favour of contending Liverpool, added that Courtois will deserve the respect due to his name.
“If there wasn’t respect on his name, there will be now,” Gerrard to BT Sport.
“He was the best player on the pitch. Liverpool didn’t do a lot wrong. They just came up against a top goalkeeper and defence,” he added.
Meanwhile, Belgium international and Real Madrid top-stopper Thibaut Courtois revealed that over time he has been underrated which spurred him to prove himself in the final.
Courtois, who starred for Chelsea before he joined Los Blancos in 2018, won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
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He has, however, continued his fine form since joining Real Madrid to win two Spanish La Liga titles, two Spain’s Supercopa Cups, a FIFA World Club Cup and a UEFA Champions League. Notwithstanding, the 30-year-old also won trophies with Atletico Madrid with Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Europa League and La Liga all added to his cabinets.
Although Courtois has won these trophies to prove his worth, the Real Madrid stopper is being underrated until the final with Liverpool which he has proven to be the man of the moment.
“I saw a lot of tweets coming my way that I would get humbled today – it was the other way round,” Courtois disclosed. “Today I needed to win a final for my career, for all the hard work to put respect on my name as I don’t think I get enough respect, especially in England.
“I saw a lot of criticism even after a great season. “I am really proud of the team. We stuck to it and when I needed to be there I was there for the team.”
“We beat some of the best clubs of the world. City and Liverpool were unbelievable this season. “They fought to the end in the Premier League, Liverpool won two cups and they were really strong.
“We played a great game today. We had one chance and scored it,” he added. The Trumpet reports that Courtois during his stead at Chelsea before he moved to Los Blancos in 2018, kept 48 clean sheets while featuring in 128 Premier League appearances.
