Confidence and spirits high for Liverpool and Real Madrid fans at Champions League final

Liverpool fan John Kinsella, 59, had a seat on the packed train from Charles de Gaulle airport to the Stade de France while his son Tom stood up.

They’d paid £850 for return flights from Liverpool on airlines that are known as ‘budget’ on days when it’s not the Champions League final. Their flight was delayed by two hours but they’d still make the 2022 Champions League final in good time.

Not every fan would as a strike on French trains cut the numbers serving the 80,000 seater stadium north of central Paris.

Kinsella, from West Derby, near Anfield, applied for tickets in the Uefa ballot two weeks ago and got lucky – if you can call £350 per ticket lucky. Plenty of his friends did not.

“I’m quietly confident but don’t know why,” he told The National before Liverpool’s game against Real Madrid on Saturday. “I felt this way before the final in Madrid three years ago but not before the final in Kiev in 2018.”

This was to be Liverpool’s third final in five years – not quite matching Madrid’s five in five in the 1950s or four out of five between 2014-18 (and four wins too).

Kinsella has a season ticket in Anfield’s main stand and plays football with the Red Neighbours team which is funded by Liverpool FC. “They say it’s walking football but none of us walk,” he said. “It’s good for us physically and mentally. We have a cup of tea and a chat after.”

Liverpool fans have had much to talk about this season.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, right, and Roberto Firmino during a training session at the Stade de France on Friday, May 27, 2022, ahead of the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris. AP

“We’re lucky to be watching this side but Kenny Dalglish remains my favourite player,” he said.