Jose Mourinho has hailed the impact a Liverpool ball-boy had on Tuesday's incredible comeback against Barcelona in the Champions League final.
With the Reds trailing 3-0 from the first leg at Camp Nou, Jurgen Klopp's team fought back and produced a truly stunning turnaround to beat the La Liga champions 4-0 at Anfield.
Their match-winning goal was clinched via a quickly-taken corner as Trent Alexander-Arnold swept in the set-piece for Divock Origi to score his second on the night.
The Reds were able to take the corner while Barca's defenders were napping thanks to the quick thinking of Hero Anfield ballboy named as 14-year-old Liverpool Academy player , who supplied Alexander-Arnold the ball.
It was on such small details that Liverpool were able to complete one of the most memorable evenings in Anfield history and former Manchester United boss Mourinho has explained the importance of the teenager's role.
Hero Anfield ballboy named as 14-year-old Liverpool Academy player
Mourinho, who reportedly sacked United's ball-boys in 2017, talked up the job they do and how they can affect the games they work at, praising Liverpool for their approach.
And the Portuguese coach couldn't resist a mention of his former club after replacing Old Trafford's ball-boys with Academy players two years ago.
"You want a quick throw in, the ball boys need to know you want a quick throw in," Mourinho told RT.
"The ball must arrive fast. I had a club where the club never understood how important the ball boys are.
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"Even if you are winning, that speed is important. The goal kicks, the tempo of the game, the ball-boys, in a good structure, can also play a part
"People don’t know that a real football club, every detail is very, very important. In this game, the kid, very intelligent, very bright.
"I don’t know if he’s an academy player or not, but the kid knew what he was going to do.
"I had a club where they never understood how important the ball boys are.
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"I was a ball-boy, a top ball-boy…when I was a ball-boy, I even knew where the players wanted the ball for a corner, so they didn't need to touch the ball."
The ex-United and Chelsea manager also reserved a word of praise for 20-year-old defender Alexander-Arnold whose two assists helped the Reds to their second successive Champions League final.
He added: "Then Alexander-Arnold, he read the situation fantastically well. Young kid, Champions League semi-final, tired, 80 minutes of football.
"He saw everything. I always say, the good players are the ones that are on the pitch and everything is clear, they see everything. He saw that."
Liverpool will meet Spurs in the showpiece final in Madrid on June 1 after their own comeback against Ajax on Wednesday night.
