Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum out to use Premier League disappointment in Champions League Final

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David Lynch24 May 2019

Liverpool's failure to claim the Premier League title despite putting together a remarkable 97-point season is serving as extra motivation for the Champions League Final , according to Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Reds brought the curtain down on their domestic campaign 12 days ago, earning their ninth straight win in the English top-flight by beating Wolves 2-0 at Anfield.

However, that was not enough to see off Manchester City, who finished a point ahead courtesy of a come-from-behind victory at Brighton.

The disappointment of not clinching top honours after suffering just one league defeat all season is useful as far as Wijnaldum is concerned, though, with the Dutchman focusing that feeling on a trophy bid that is completely in the Reds' control.

“Everyone is really focused and determined to win a trophy, especially because we’ve had a really good year," he told the club's official website.

“It was a great year with 97 points in the league, but unfortunately, we didn’t end as champions, so that’s why we want to finish this season with a trophy.

“In the last game of the season, we couldn’t control things [in the league] because it wasn’t in our hands.

“Now, it’s different, it's a final, so we’re going to try to make the best of it and try to win the game, but we know Tottenham are a really tough opponent.”

In Pictures | Liverpool squad in Marbella | 20/05/2019

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Jurgen Klopp has taken his squad to Marbella this week as part of their preparations for the upcoming showdown with Tottenham in Madrid.

Wijnaldum believes that stay on the Costa del Sol is the ideal warm-up for the final, and added: “It’s been good so far.

“It’s a little bit hot and not the weather we’re used to, but the training sessions have gone well for everyone. We have to come back into rhythm again after the few days we had off and so far it’s been good.

“Normally, you’re in a rhythm of training and playing games, but now we don’t play a game for three weeks, so we have to find a rhythm again.

“At this training camp, we train hard, the circumstances can be tough with the weather, but you learn to get used to it. It’ll probably be the same in Madrid, so it’s good for us to have a camp like this.”

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