Why one Barcelona player became a 'popular figure in Liverpool' after 2011 Champions League final win
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Liverpool’s hopes of winning a seventh Champions League in 2025 were ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday.
After going so far clear in the Premier League domestically, the Reds had been dreaming of conquering Europe yet again as well.
However, they ran into a superb PSG team who made good on their promise to turnaround a first-leg defeat in Paris. Liverpool will simply have to go again next year.
With the Reds out of the competition, PSG now look like one of the favourites to win the Champions League this time.
But the Parisians will face stiff competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter and Arsenal, who will all believe they have a real chance of glory. For Barcelona, it has been 10 long years since they last tasted victory in the Champions League.
A certain Javier Mascherano was in their defence in Berlin back in 2015, just as he was four years earlier when Barca beat Man United 3-1 at Wembley. And having secured the trophy that night 14 years ago, Mascherano had a message for Liverpool supporters.
Javier Mascherano repays Liverpool supporters
Mascherano was a superb little player for Liverpool. A key part of ‘the best midfield in the world’, the Argentine spent three-and-a-half years looking the part at Anfield.
By the summer of 2010, however, that midfield had already lost Xabi Alonso and with Roy Hodgson taking over from Rafa Benitez, there was disquiet around the club.
Mascherano reportedly wanted out for family reasons and when Barcelona showed interest in him, the defensive midfielder famously refused to play during the Reds opening game of the season against Arsenal.
“He doesn’t expect the club to just let him walk out of here,” said Hodgson at the time. “He hopes that a club comes in where he could be reunited with his family – which is the major problem for him – that offers us what he is worth and we accept that.”
In the end Barca did exactly that, paying around £17.25m for the then 26-year-old. Once at Camp Nou, Mascherano continued to show his qualities, becoming a key figure for Pep Guardiola’s brilliant side.
That culminated in an appearance in the Champions League final at the end of his first season in Catalonia. And after dispatching Liverpool’s great rivals, Mascherano spoke to Sky Sports on the pitch after the game.
“I tried to do my best, I tried to give my best to the team and I’m happy because we could get our target,” he said. With the interview then over, Mascherano made a point of adding a little extra to his speech.
“I just want to say I know that Liverpool supporters are a little bit, maybe, after my exit they were a little bit sad with me,” he said. “But this is for them as well.”
Mascherano becomes a ‘popular figure’ in Liverpool
Although Liverpool supporters were disappointed – and angry – with Mascherano back in 2010, the subsequent season had shown that things were indeed a mess at Anfield.
And after seeing him deliver a very earnest message to them having just had the biggest night of his professional life, Mascherano was back in the good books of most Liverpudlians.
| Years | Appearances | Goals | |
| River Plate | 2003-05 | 71 | 1 |
| Corinthians | 2005-06 | 33 | 0 |
| West Ham | 2006-07 | 7 | 0 |
| Liverpool | 2007-10 | 139 | 2 |
| Barcelona | 2010-18 | 334 | 1 |
| Hebei China Fortune | 2018-19 | 54 | 1 |
| Estudiantes | 2019-20 | 11 | 0 |
Sky presenter Jeff Stelling certainly seemed to think so. With the cameras cutting back to the studio after Mascherano’s comments, a grinning Stelling summed up the thoughts of what most Liverpool fans would have been feeling.
“He will be a popular figure in Liverpool this evening there’s no question about that!” said the presenter. “Being on the side that has beaten Manchester United.”
Mascherano went on to win the 2015 final with Barca as well as four La Liga titles. He retired in 2020 and is now coaching his good friend Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
