“You can see that Real Madrid have something different in the Champions League” - Fabinho

Fabinho Tavares is an old acquaintance of madridismo. He came through at Castilla, and played for Real Madrid before making a real name for himself at Monaco, and has long-since developed into a crucial cog in a highly-functioning Liverpool midfield. The Brazilian midfielder, still recovering from injury, spoke to AS just after winning the FA Cup at Wembley - meaning a double in domestic trophies this season - with a focus on the upcoming clash in Paris against Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid side.

In terms of confidence, how does winning the FA Cup affect Liverpool?

It’s always good to win, to win games, to win trophies... today we won another one. It’s already our second cup of the season and that gives the team confidence. We are very happy and we have celebrated a lot... I think you can still hear it in my voice. But, winning always provides confidence and also this is a cup that we have been eyeing for some time with the manager.

Physically, how are you feeling?

Generally speaking: we are all very tired. It’s normal because we’ve been playing at the weekend and in midweek games for a month now, always game after game and important games at that. This makes you physically and mentally tired, but this team has worked very hard to get here, to this point of the season with a chance to win all four trophies. There are only a few games left, a final sprint, and the manager will have a bit of a headache to put together a team, because 120 minutes at this stage of the season [for the FA Cup final] is not easy. I hope those who play are well prepared because it will be very tough.

Speaking about the coach, Klopp said: “Fabinho will definitely be in the Champions League final. What does Fabinho say?

Yes, I will be there... to play. We are working and recovering to be ready for that final. I’m very calm and very confident that I’ll be there, so I have to keep working and resting to be at my physical peak for 28 May.

You are going to face Real Madrid, have you followed their games... and their comebacks?

Yes, I have followed them, especially their last three games. As they didn’t play on the same day as us I watched the games. They are a team used to playing in the Champions League and when they say that Madrid have ‘something different’ in the Champions League you can see that it’s true. In the last three games they have won in a similar way, scoring two or more goals in a very short period of time, and I think Madrid deserve to be in the final too. They have had a very good year. Let’s see what happens on the 28th, let’s hope we win.

After having played for Madrid, is this final more special?

No, a Champions League final is very, very special. Some players have the opportunity to play it once, or twice, which will be my case, while others never get the chance.... So it is always something very special, with a really nice stadium, the fans of both teams, my family... this makes it even more special. But having been at Madrid, and coming through at Castilla, it doesn’t make this one any more special or make me approach the game differently.

Would you rather win the Champions League or the Premier League?

Both!