Jurgen Klopp has hailed Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win as the most special of his career.
The Anfield club claimed a record-setting tenth triumph in the competition after Virgil van Dijk’s extra-time header tipped the balance against Chelsea.
But the Reds had to do things the hard way with a mounting injury list that further extended when Ryan Gravenberch was stretchered off in the first half.
Klopp finished Sunday’s showpiece with four academy graduates on the pitch and believes the hard-fought victory made it among his personal highlights.
“What we see here today is exceptional,” said the Liverpool manager.
“We might never see it again. These things don’t happen in football. I got told there’s an English phrase – you don’t win trophies with kids. I didn’t know that.
“In more than 20 years it is easily the most special trophy I have ever won. It is absolutely exceptional.
“Sometimes people ask me if I’m proud of things and it’s really tricky, I wish I could feel pride more often. But tonight is an overwhelming feeling.
“I was proud of everyone involved in everything here, I was proud of our people for the way they pushed us, I was proud of the staff for creating this kind of atmosphere where these boys can just do what they are best at.
“I was proud of our academy, I was proud of my coaches, I was proud of so many things. It was completely overwhelming.
“It was nothing to do with it being maybe my last game at Wembley. It was really because of how everybody contributed.
“Seeing the faces after the game of the kids, Jayden Danns – can you create football stories which definitely nobody will ever forget?
“It’s so difficult. If you find the same story with academy players coming on against a top, top side and still winning it, I’ve never heard of it.”