Looking back on the Champions League

To mark the Champions League final, Jake reflects on the conversations they have had with a range of guests about the Champions League. In this episode, you will hear from Jordan Henderson, Kieran Trippier, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino among others about their relationship to the competition.

This final of the Champions League also a very significant game for Jake as it will be the last ever match he hosts on BT Sport, after a decade of presenting on the channel. He shares how he feels about the significant moment and his final time hosting a competition that many consider to be the pinnacle of the game.

Listen to the full episodes:

Rio Ferdinand: https://pod.fo/e/15914

Mauricio Pochettino: https://pod.fo/e/16521

Kieran Trippier: https://pod.fo/e/17a67f

Steven Gerrard: https://pod.fo/e/a33ba

Frank Lampard: https://pod.fo/e/136b50

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# High Performance Podcast: Champions League Special

## Introduction

- Jake reflects on his decade-long hosting career in BT Sport, covering the Champions League.
- He shares his emotions about his final Champions League match as a host.


## Lessons from Champions League Legends

### 1. The Power of Resilience and Picking Yourself Up:

- Liverpool Captain Jordan Henderson emphasizes the importance of staying together and looking forward after a defeat.
- Jurgen Klopp's post-match speeches focused on unity and the beginning of a journey, rather than dwelling on the loss.
- This mindset helped Liverpool eventually win the Champions League in 2019.


### 2. Learning from Defeat and Embracing the Journey:

- Kieran Trippier discusses Tottenham's defeat in the 2019 Champions League final.
- He highlights the disappointment but also the pride in reaching the final.
- Trippier emphasizes the importance of learning from the experience and using it to improve in the future.


### 3. The Fine Margins of Success and Failure:

- Maurizio Pochettino shares his perspective on the Champions League final, considering it a failure despite reaching the final.
- Jake acknowledges the fine margins in football and the role of luck in determining outcomes.


### 4. Earning a Place Among Legends:

- Rio Ferdinand reflects on his journey at Manchester United and the feeling of not fitting in until he won the Champions League.
- Winning the Champions League gave him the confidence to consider himself on par with United legends.


### 5. Empathy and Understanding:

- Jake emphasizes the importance of empathy over opinion in understanding the experiences of athletes.
- He highlights Steven Gerrard's act of comforting John Arne Riise after a missed penalty in the 2005 Champions League final.


### 6. Creating a Positive Culture:

- Steven Gerrard discusses the importance of being there for teammates in good and bad times.
- He believes that a strong culture is built on supporting one another through challenges.


### 7. Imagining Success and Practicing for Pressure:

- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shares his approach to preparing for big moments, including imagining scoring goals in crucial situations.
- He emphasizes the importance of practicing with the same intensity as in a match.


### 8. The Bittersweetness of Success and Loss:

- Frank Lampard reflects on his time as Chelsea manager, guiding the team to the Champions League group stage but losing his job before they won the trophy.
- He acknowledges the disappointment but also the pride in the team's achievements.


### 9. The Passion and Emotion of Football:

- Edwin van der Sar expresses his frustration at Ajax's near-miss in reaching the Champions League final in 2019.
- He highlights the passion and emotion that football evokes, even years after the event.


## Conclusion

- Jake reflects on his decade of hosting football matches and the valuable lessons he has learned.
- He encourages listeners to explore the High Performance Podcast archive for more insights.
- He expresses excitement about new challenges and hopes to continue sharing valuable lessons with his audience.