Jose Mourinho Backs Liverpool for 3rd Champions League Final in a Row

Rory Marsden @@roomarsdenFeatured ColumnistJune 3, 2019

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 01: Players of FC Liverpool celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 1, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

TF-Images/Getty Images

Jose Mourinho has talked up the chances of Liverpool making a third consecutive UEFA Champions League final in 2019-20.

The Reds won the famous trophy for a sixth time on Saturday as they beat Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid.

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring early on from the penalty spot and Divock Origi sealed the victory three minutes from time (U.S. only):

Bleacher Report Live @brlive
The Reds struck early with their superstar Salah then sealed it late with their super-sub Origi 🏆 Liverpool claims its sixth #UCL crown https://t.co/jaW6wvauE1

A year ago, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the final in Kiev, Ukraine.

Next year's final will be at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium, site of the 2005 final when Liverpool launched an extraordinary comeback victory against AC Milan.

And Mourinho, a two-time Champions League winner himself as a manager, sees no reason why the Reds can't return to the final for a third season running, per beIN Sports (h/t Goal):

"Why can't Liverpool do three finals in a row? Why Liverpool, with this good team, with this good spirit, with this good empathy. The club, the manager, the players, the fans. Why not a third?"

beIN SPORTS @beINSPORTS
"Why Liverpool can't do three finals in a row with this good team, good spirit...why not a third? Jose Mourinho on who he thinks will challenge for the Champions League trophy next season and reveals why former club Chelsea isn't one of them. #beINUCL #UCLFinal https://t.co/I9hdohXRkI

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The Portuguese added his former club Chelsea could struggle in the Champions League next season "because they don't have the possibility to be in the transfer market" due to their transfer ban.

Meanwhile, Mourinho named Juventus, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool as the sides who will have designs on winning the tournament next term: "You have seven or eight teams. Lots of teams want to do it, but only one can do it."

Saturday's triumph was a first win in four finals for Klopp since he was appointed at Anfield in October 2015.

The German's first piece of silverware at the club was also Liverpool's first since the 2012 League Cup.

Given how strong Liverpool's squad now is, it could be the first of many in the coming years.

The Premier League title will remain the key aim next season. Liverpool have not won a league title since 1990, and fell just short in 2018-19 despite losing just once and accruing 97 points:

Match of the Day @BBCMOTD
Liverpool are the first team in top-flight history to lose just one game and not win the title. No other side has won as many as 30 games and reached 97 points and failed to lift the trophy. Watch #MOTD 👉 https://t.co/BZoVsqpaEK https://t.co/vfWgXhIr6d

Klopp's side will likely be Manchester City's biggest challengers again next term as Pep Guardiola's side go for a third title in a row.