Every game from the Nations League finals will be live on Sky Sports
Thursday 9 May 2019 21:10, UK
Gareth Southgate has described Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino’s achievements this season as ‘incredible’ after the pair set up an all-English Champions League final.
Tottenham scored deep into added time against Ajax on Wednesday night to reach the final, just 24 hours after Liverpool thumped Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
The Premier League sides will meet in the final at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on June 1 and Southgate is thrilled for the English players involved, who will fight it out for the biggest prize in European football.
"I was at Manchester City [for Monday night's 1-0 win over Leicester] on Monday and I thought that was an incredible twist in itself," Southgate told Sky Sports News.
"I was then at Anfield on Tuesday and left there thinking I'd seen one of the most incredible nights I can remember having spent 30 years in football. For it then to be backed up by Tottenham on Wednesday was phenomenal.
"Huge credit to both managers. In different circumstances they have achieved incredible seasons.
"From an England perspective it is brilliant they are having these experiences in big matches where they are having to play under pressure - and they have come out successfully."
A Tottenham vs Liverpool final gives Southgate a potential selection headache, with England contesting their UEFA Nations League last four clash with the Netherlands just five days after the Madrid showpiece.
"It's making things more complicated," added Southgate, who was speaking at a Future Leaders programme event sent up by The Prince's Trust.
"That's for sure, because the reality is we will be getting seven or eight of the players three days before our semi-final. So you have great ideas of planning things and working with the team and in truth we will have [almost] half of our squad that won't be with us until three days before.
"So it's more complicated but it's brilliant for the players and long-term for England we need them in those matches.
"And our job - as a staff - is to adapt to those changes and make sure we are still prepared for the semi-final with Holland."
