Former Liverpool midfielder and RTÉ soccer analyst Didi Hamann believes that the role supporters can play in tonight’s Champions League final should not be under estimated.
The Reds take on Real Madrid in Kyiv with the Spanish side chasing their fourth Champions League title in five years and their third consecutive crown.
While tickets have been in short supply for Liverpool fans, with more than 30,000 applying for the 17,000 available, Madrid were unable to sell their allocation and returned 2,000 to UEFA.
Such has been the demand from Liverpool supporters to get to Kyiv that travel companies have been unable to keep up and up to 1,000 fans were left stranded when Worldchoice Sports were forced to cancel flights.
Hamann has witnessed first hand the difference that supporters can make, having famously played in the 2005 final where Liverpool came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat AC Milan.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, the former German international said: "They certainly made a difference in 2005. Liverpool haven’t been in this situation for eleven years now but of course it can make a difference.
"I think it’s understandable when you’re in the fourth final in five years, then it’s understandable maybe from a Madrid point of view. It’s so hard to get here and obviously very expensive to get here, they’d rather watch it at home.
"I wouldn’t read too much into Madrid fans not turning up because even Liverpool fans have had huge problems getting here.
"The fans can make a difference. When there’s a bit of a rocky patch when you need the fans and we certainly wouldn’t have done it in 2005 without the fans."
But even if Liverpool’s fans do give them an edge, Hamann still believes that his former side are really up against it when they take on the Spaniards.
Madrid are a vastly experienced side who know this competition and what it takes to win it, while for Liverpool this is the first time Champions League final for each member of their squad.
"It’s a very interesting and intriguing final because you’ve got a very experienced team in Madrid who have won it three times in the last four year," Hamann said.
"They have plenty of experience and plenty of trophies on their side, most of their players are multiple winners of the Champions League and they have World Cup winners as well.
"On the other side you’ve got a very inexperienced team who I think against all the odds made it into the final. They deserve it because they knocked some very good teams out on the way, so it’s very intriguing.
"But I think experience counts for a lot and I think a lot will come down to how hungry Madrid are.
"If they have the same hunger as they had the last two years to really win it a third time in-a-row and the fourth time in five years, which probably won’t be beaten, then I think it will be mighty tough for Liverpool."
"The biggest danger for Liverpool is that the occasion gets to them because it’s one thing playing in a quarter-final or semi-final.
"Don’t get me wrong, they’ve done ever so well but a final is something different and there’ll be very few players in that team that have played in a major final like this.
"They’ve got to do the right thing at the right time and at times they’ve been a bit naive. Against Roma they could have and should have slowed the game down and break Roma’s rhythm, and show a bit more tactical nous.
"I think they’ve got to do that better in the final than they did in the second leg against Roma."
Keep up to date with the Champions League final with our live blog on RTÉ Sport online and the News Now App. Live coverage on RTÉ2 Television from 7pm.
