James Milner wants to 'put things right' after three cup final defeats at Liverpool

LFC Globe
15th March 2019
James Milner

says he wants to "put things right" this season after losing his last three cup finals with Liverpool.

Milner has been an astute from , however the midfielder has been unable to earn any silverware during his time so far.

The Reds reached the final of both the League Cup and in 2016, but suffered defeat when it truly mattered.

Their final against ended in heartbreak as they succumbed to a 3-1 .

Milner says he wants to put things right this season, admitting "to have not won something when we have given ourselves opportunities is difficult to take".

Liverpool FC

Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images

“I don't think we think about that too much at this moment in time but it is a memory that never goes too quickly. You still think about it now,” he said.

“Maybe – hopefully – if we get to the final, we can think about putting it right then.

“We probably took more positives from last year than negatives but it's a bitter pill to swallow when you lose the final of the Champions League and the way we went down.

“I have been to three finals since I have been here, lost them all and I am desperate to put that right. You are proud to have played in the European Cup final but you don't go there to lose.

“Listen, I have loved every minute of my time at Liverpool but to have not won something when we have given ourselves opportunities is difficult to take at this moment.”

James Milner

Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Liverpool await their next rival in the Champions League until Friday's , having knocked out Bayern Munich to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Reds' recent record in Europe makes them a fearsome side for any opponent, with Milner adding: “I'd like to think teams have that respect for us.

“We got to the CL final last year. We got to the Europa League final in 2016. We are challenging for the .

“Whether teams take notice is not really for us to worry about but they take notice after they have played us and we have put them out.”

Liverpool trail Manchester City by one point in the Premier League, with huge optimism around that the Reds can pip Pep Guardiola's side to the title.

It would represent Liverpool's first trophy in seven years, with their last coming in the 2012 League Cup under Kenny Dalglish.

James Milner

Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images

“You know, it's been so long since we won a league title. Even in recent years Liverpool haven't won as many trophies as they should do for such a big club,” Milner said.

“Even for us now – we are a young team, we are improving but the chances we have given ourselves? We have to put that right. We have to get over the line in one of them.

“But (we can use) the thoughts of the run we had, the teams that we beat and the confidence that we gained.

“Then you see how we are playing in the Premier League – we have only lost one game – that is confidence and helping us move forward as a team.

“We are in two competitions and we can manage that, game-wise. There is the good feeling you get from winning in the style that we did (in Munich), the confidence going into the weekend.

“We got a good feeling from getting out of the group and we have got a good feeling after knocking out Bayern Munich. You can only take positives.”

The Reds are next in action against at Craven Cottage this Sunday as they look to get another valuable three points on the road.

Share This Article
Live Liverpool FC News
cross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram