Monday 19 August 2019 13:46, UK
Sky Sports News reporter Paul Gilmour posts the final instalment of his Istanbul Super Cup Diary…
Having been in demand following his penalty heroics Adrian was the last player out of the media area at 2.30am local time. Our interview with him was cut short by the sound of a sharp whistle before security ushered him away. The whistle was from an unhappy Klopp who had returned to the interview area having grown tired of waiting on his last remaining player. Klopp reminded the Spaniard that the team had a game on Saturday. Perhaps another example of the elite mentality instilled at the club.
It was an eventful evening for the former West Ham goalkeeper. As Liverpool players waited for the trophy presentation a member of the club staff appeared to be mistaken for a pitch invader by security personnel. It looked like Adrian vouched for him and the security staff, satisfied that all was well, apologised and moved on. He had less luck in the interview area when the bottom fell through the cardboard bag was carrying, leaving his Spanish flag and other belongings on the floor.
Tammy Abraham was one of the first Chelsea players to emerge through the media area but he was in no mood to stop and talk to anyone. Frank Lampard, no stranger to stepping up to take a pressure penalty himself, was left impressed with the way Abraham and Mason Mount showed confidence to step up and take their kicks in the first place.
A glorified friendly? Try telling that to players who produced an open and at times slick contest. And try telling it to the thousands of fans who turned up at the stadium five hours before kick-off. Liverpool fans vastly outnumbered their Chelsea counterparts with a sea of red in the stands while the local fans were massively invested in the occasion. There were no prizes for guessing who the most popular player is in this part of the world. As Mohamed Salah's name was read out pre-match there was a deafening roar.
It took some convincing to get Andy Lonergan to agree to an interview after the game. He was almost embarrassed to be asked and tried to explain to us that there are others more worthy. That's not the case at all! The 35-year old signing for the European Champions is a great story after he was selected in a matchday squad for the first time since March when starting for Rochdale against Scunthorpe.
Such is the random nature of the pre and post-match press conferences at European games, managers and players must often prepare themselves for unusual questions or the inaudible dialect. Instead of being asked about Adrian's penalty save, a key moment in the game, Klopp was told that he was a popular figure in Iran. Meanwhile, on Tuesday Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta both thought a mumbled question in English was being asked in Turkish so simultaneously put their headphones on for the translation.
Chelsea and Liverpool may have played out an entertaining game but it was the children of the UEFA Foundation who stole the show. Taking to the pitch prior to kick off the kids, many of whom are young amputee players, sang Bob Marley's Three Little Birds to a captivated crowd. It followed a kick around with both sets of players at training on Tuesday, while Virgil van Dijk interviewed 11-year old Emirhan, who lost his leg after being run down by a car.
