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The countdown is underway and here, in our first preview of the Champions League final, The Sunday Times chief football writer, Jonathan Northcroft, returns to the podcast to talk about Liverpool, who he has followed closely this season, from one-on-ones with key players, press conferences with Jurgen Klopp and access to the recruitment and analytics machine that has transformed the club. 

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Welcome to our Champions League final clip show.

Ahead of this week’s all-English Champions League Cup final in Madrid, here’s some of our fantastic guests reflecting on their experiences of the final of this great competition.

We start with Liverpool and a section from a Big Interview I did with James Milner in December 2018 where he reflects on the pain of last year's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid… but also how much they learned, and will now take into the weekend.

Jamie Carragher then takes us into the half-time dressing room at Istanbul in 2005 and the ecstasy of that famous Liverpool victory.

The agonies are powerfully conveyed by ex-Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, who was wrongfully suspended from the 2009 Champions League final v Barcelona.

Graeme Souness then regales us with extraordinary tales of Liverpool European Cup finals, including 1981 in Paris where he left the Parc des Princes in the back of a police van.

Finally, Paul Clement experienced Champions League success as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant at Real Madrid in the 2014 final. Ramos' 93rd-minute header v Atletico Madrid? Extra-time? Let Paul be your guide for that historic night.

Enjoy

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Welcome to our UEFA / Europa Cup final clip show.

Ahead of this week’s all-English Europa Cup final in Baku, we thought we would put together some of our brilliant guests reflecting on their experiences of the competition.

We start with Kevin Bridges and the ultimate fan experience at the 2003 UEFA Cup final. Did you know Henrik Larsson performed medical miracles that night as well as score two fantastic goals? Listen up for his bittersweet experience of seeing his team, Celtic, lose in extra-time to Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

Terry Butcher takes us back to Ipswich’s 1981 UEFA Cup final win over AZ Alkmaar - a bonkers two-legged affair in which Bobby Robson’s side eventually won 5-4.

Fast forward exactly 20 years and another English side picked up the UEFA Cup with exactly the same scoreline, albeit over a one-legged extra-time match which was eventually settled by a golden goal. Gary McAllister tells the tale of Liverpool’s epic 5-4 win over Alaves from his perspective, while Jamie Carragher describes the exhausted exhilaration he felt on that famous night.

Ander Herrera then talks us his through his man-of-the-match winning performance in Manchester United’s victory over Ajax in 2017's Europa League final, before we hear from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Middlesbrough’s swashbuckling run to the 2006 final.

Enjoy

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Valencia end an 11-year trophy drought, but their 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final might be far more significant than that. 

They have Spain's coach of the year, and a cleverly-assembled team that is ready to challenge for the title if the big three can't solve their problems this summer. 

As for Barcelona? They have been in the psychiatrist's chair since Anfield and they can't get out until they make big changes to their team. 

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After a season that started abysmally, Valencia have been doubled their productivity in front of goal and made the latest of runs into the final Champions League spot in La Liga.

Now they have a chance to win the Copa del Rey and raise further the profile of Marcelino, a coach who I think will eventually land in the Premier League.

Graham

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Hola and welcome to the Big Interview with Mark Schwarzer – a great goalkeeper who broke new ground as part of pioneering teams with Middlesbrough, Fulham and Australia.

talked about his early years playing in Germany, where he played with Jonny Ekstrom and a young Jens Jeremies, and the push factors which eventually persuaded him to make his name in England. 

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There’s something magical about the FA Cup final, don’t you think?

Wembley, the sun shining, a bowling green of a pitch… jumpers for goalposts. Sorry I’ve taken that too far.

Here’s some clips of our guests talking about that most special day in the football calendar

First up, then West Ham manager Alan Pardew tells us of the day in 2006 when Stevie G broke his heart with an injury-time equaliser from, what, 160 yards, to force extra-time and penalties.

Gary McAllister continues the Liverpool theme when he talks us through his part in the Anfield club’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in the 2001 FA Cup final.

Robbie di Matteo scored the fastest goal in FA Cup final history in 1997 and he talks us through that iconic moment, before Terry Gibson takes us back to 1988 and the day the Crazy Gang beat Liverpool to pick up the famous trophy.

Finally, listen up for Ander Herrera’s reflections on the 2016 FA Cup final, which marked his first major honour at United.

Enjoy!

Graham

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Ever wondered what it's like to share a dressing room with big Duncan Ferguson and Tommy Gravesen? In part two, let David Weir take you into the inner sanctum of the Everton dressing room between 1999 and 2007. Listen to him break down the challenge of playing against the top Premier League strikers of that era and how his greatest test was facing rangy forwards like Freddi Kanoute and Paulo Wanchope. You'll also hear about David's take on stockpiling trophies during his spell at Rangers and that unforgettable run to the final of the 2008 UEFA Cup final, where the Ibrox side lost to Zenit St Petersburg. 

Enjoy!

Graham 

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As a player, David Weir was bright, he read games brilliantly and his intelligence ensured that he enjoyed a long and successful career.

That career, in my eyes, was a boy's own story.

In this first episode, David claims that he was not good enough for professional football at 18 and so he left for the United States, becoming one of the elite players in the college game. You'll hear about his experiences across the Atlantic, as well as his time at hometown club Falkirk, and Scottish Cup glory at Hearts.

Enjoy!

Graham

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Hi, 

My bet is that the vast majority of Big Interviews you listen to are with footballers whose names you recognise. I'll forgive you for not knowing Ally Dick. But I promise you, this is a must-listen. 

The reason you don't know his name is that his short career at Spurs and Ajax was punctuated by debilitating injuries which forced him to retire aged 23. But he won European trophies at both of those great clubs, and his talent burned brightly ever time he stepped onto a pitch. 

This second part of the interview focuses on Ajax, where Cruyff signed him from Spurs. And all the big names are here. Muhren, Van Basten, Rijkaard, Bergkamp, the De Boer twins, Koeman. Ally more than held his own in that esteemed company. 

If you want to know the secrets of Ajax's success in this season's Champions League, it's all in this fascinating conversation with Ally Dick 

Enjoy

Graham

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