"I've played in a Champions League final before, and I've won the Champions League, so I think I'm qualified to say a few things to you about this kind of match."
"At the very least, there's one thing I can tell you for sure. The Champions League final isn't as terrifying as you imagine. Of course, it isn't as easy as you imagine either."
"If you want to play well in this Champions League final, the first thing you need to do is forget that our opponent is Bayern. Forget our comeback last time too."
"After we completed that comeback last season, some of you weren't in the team yet. That's why, over the past few days, many players have been asking me how exactly a Champions League final should be played."
"Now I can tell all of you. We play this Champions League final the same way we've played every match before it."
"When you play in a Champions League final, you'll feel all kinds of emotions. That's completely normal. If you don't feel anything at all, you should probably see a doctor."
The Liverpool players immediately started laughing. Leo Lin wanted to use this pre-match talk to stop them from worrying too much about the Champions League final.
There were less than ten minutes left before kickoff. Klopp, Zubizarreta, and Krawietz had already given out all the tactical instructions, making sure every starter and rotation player fully understood how they were supposed to deal with Bayern's players in this final.
In terms of ability, Liverpool had already proven themselves many times over against all kinds of opponents. Klopp also hoped the players could reach that same level in every other aspect.
That was why Klopp wanted Leo Lin to share his rich experience of winning titles with these young players, not just in the Champions League, but also in the World Cup and many other competitions.
"Rodri, I know you were worried before that you wouldn't start. I also saw how desperately you trained for that starting place. That's why you can now represent us in the Champions League final."
"Our firepower has already been proven in the Premier League, the FA Cup, and plenty of other competitions. No matter who we face, we can score. That means we can score against Bayern too."
"I want everyone to remember this once you step onto the pitch. First, get used to the feel of the grass."
"Second, open your eyes and look at the fans around you, especially the Bayern fans. Look at them. See clearly what they're doing. Then you'll realize they're just ordinary fans like everyone else."
"Our fans are ordinary fans too, but once we win the Champions League, they won't be ordinary anymore."
"Remember, Liverpool have always been able to turn the ordinary into legend."
Leo Lin entered the tunnel at the Johan Cruijff ArenA with all the starting players, chatting with the Bayern players and greeting the referee.
As the broadcast camera slowly moved between the two teams, the fans watching felt as though they could sense the warmth from the players' shoulders on either side, following all of them into the final.
For this Champions League final, a full twenty-two replica Champions League trophies had been placed on both sides of the exit, allowing every player to walk past the trophy.
At the very front, a huge Champions League trophy model stood behind the players. As the players from both sides began shaking hands, the giant trophy model also started sliding toward the pitch. Little by little, it was dragged up to the very top of the Johan Cruijff ArenA and suspended directly from the stadium roof.
Gullit and Scholes were full of anticipation as well. After all, they had both experienced Champions League finals themselves.
"The Champions League final between Liverpool and Bayern Munich will officially begin in just a few minutes!"
Looking at the Champions League trophy hanging from the roof, the players on both sides had the same reaction. They all wanted to pull that trophy down and hold it in their own arms.
The countdown to kickoff kept shrinking as the giant trophy swayed above them. When it reached zero, the massive trophy suddenly gave off the silver glow of the Champions League, lighting up the entire stadium. The Champions League final officially began.
"Keep the passing simple first!"
"Watch your teammates' positions!"
Leo Lin was worried his teammates might rush things, while the Bayern players began pressing high. The match had only just started, but Bayern had already completely emptied their own back line.
"Judging by Bayern's movement, Kovač seems to want to continue using the tactics Bayern have been using in the league."
"Gnabry is charging at Alisson!"
Alisson was dribbling. That was right. Liverpool were letting their goalkeeper carry the ball, and the six-yard box was Alisson's dribbling range.
Seeing Gnabry press him and Lewandowski block Van Dijk's passing lane, Alisson played the ball to Joe Gomez.
Joe Gomez immediately passed to Salah. At that moment, the player offering support to Salah was not a Liverpool midfielder, but the winger Mané.
Mané had actually run over to Salah's side, while Robertson had moved into the attacking area on the other flank where Mané should have been.
When Liverpool attacked, they completely ignored Bayern's positioning and simply followed their own attacking patterns, forcing Bayern's players to retreat.
Bayern wanted to leave space behind their back line and tempt Liverpool into playing long balls, but Klopp refused to go long. He still kept the ball on the ground, because he knew Bayern were extremely good at shutting down long-ball attacks.
For Bundesliga teams, that was the kind of attack they feared least.
Salah passed to Mané, and when Mané received it, he switched the ball to Robertson. At that moment, Robertson became the Liverpool player carrying the knife forward.
Robertson played almost like a winger, first driving forward with the ball, then sending it into the middle.
Süle was slow, but his reading of the game was excellent. He intercepted and cleared the ball in time, denying Robertson the assist.
After the ball was cleared, Bayern's players began running forward again, but this time Rodri knocked Thiago aside and stopped the ball back to Robertson.
At that moment, Salah, who should have been on the right, suddenly appeared on the left. Mané was on the left as well, forcing Bayern's players to start shifting over to that side. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez had run into Salah's original position.
Robertson passed to Salah, and Salah moved it on to Joe Gomez.
This kind of switch was extremely difficult for Bayern to defend in advance.
The Liverpool player carrying the knife forward had changed again. This time it was Joe Gomez.
Leo Lin and Firmino were both getting ready to attack the ball.
Joe Gomez crossed again.
This time, Süle almost let Firmino slip away. Fortunately for Bayern, Hummels covered in time and managed to clear the ball.
Although Bayern had cleared both attacks, if Liverpool were allowed to keep attacking like this, Bayern were bound to make a mistake eventually.
"Every Liverpool player can carry a knife!"
"Their attack right now looks like they're taking turns letting different players carry the knife forward!"
"First Robertson, then Joe Gomez. Who will be the next one to advance with the knife?"
"And who exactly should Bayern Munich be defending?"