How Andrew Robertson got over Liverpool's Champions League heartache | OneFootball

Andrew Robertson has revealed how he managed to get rid of his post-Champions League final blues.

Robertson played the full 90 minutes as Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid in Kiev back in May – a result which left the Scot and the rest of his team-mates distraught.

“I had over 20 people at the final and they were all flying in at different times; when they got back they were all trying to catch some sleep,” he told the Daily Mail.

“But I couldn’t. I sat up and spent some time with my little one because he can’t speak, which I was quite happy about!

“I have since watched the game back on my own. It was tough. I watched the first half an hour and I kept thinking: “We’ve got them here!” but, obviously, things started going wrong after that. I honestly think the second goal took the wind out of our sails.

“You put so much into the whole day, so much adrenaline. Then you have a massive come down afterwards. That hit me. I had to get through it. So I went out with my dad and bought a barbecue because everyone was coming round.”

That’s right, the former Hull City man tried to take his mind off the disappointment of losing the biggest game of his career so far by taking a trip to his local DIY store.

“There I am, the day after the Champions League final, in Homebase in Formby buying a barbecue!” he said.

“It just got me out the house to be honest! Dad is quite good in those kind of situations. He’ll talk about everything bar football. When we got back, we built and then did the cooking!

“By about three o’clock, when everyone had arrived, I was just happy to have my family round me. I could see how proud they were of me and it was good to be surrounded by them. It was a good comfort.”

The 24-year-old’s move to Anfield last summer generated little fanfare at the time, but his performances in the second half of last season made him a firm fans’ favourite at the club.

“The first couple of months I wasn’t really anywhere to be seen,” he said.

“There was no big deal about it and that was probably what I wanted at the time. Now I feel more established in the squad. It’s small things really.

“I’ve never been to America before, for example, so to see the fans and hear them shouting your name… You’d maybe think they’d be here just to see Liverpool, but they know all the players, they’re clued up. It’s good to be noticed, because it means you’re playing and doing something right.

“As soon as you put in one good performance for a club like this there’s pressure; the next week fans expect it again. Last season, nobody put pressure on me really. I think for some fans, anything I did was a bonus! This season there is more expectation but I have to use that to my advantage.”

Their performances towards the end of last season combined with their summer transfer activity means the Reds will be entering the new campaign as one of the favourites to lift the Premier League title. Robertson believes a title tilt is not out of the question at all.

“This year, we’ve got a stronger squad and the competition is there,’ he said.

“If there’s competition in training then the training is intense, and then you have the pressure of a weekend that if you don’t put in good performances then your place is maybe up for grabs.

“Manchester City blew everyone away last season, really. The first part of the season was crucial, and they were too far away from us from quite early on really. But hopefully the gaffer’s identified players who he thinks can come in and make a difference. There’s no doubting the quality.

“I like pressure. I put in on myself and I think I get the best out of myself by doing that. I just can’t wait for the season to start.”