Champions League moments - Fernando Llorente

Fernando Llorente is the man with the golden touch in the Champions League.

The Spanish striker’s contribution on our road to Madrid cannot be underestimated.

It started with an assist against PSV in Matchday Four, continued with goals against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City and then the touch that mattered most in the semi-final, second leg against Ajax, guiding Moussa Sissoko’s last-second ball forward into the path of Dele, who played in Lucas Moura for the goal that took us into the final.

The journey to the final has caught the imagination of the 34-year-old, a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain, Europa League winner with Sevilla and Champions League finalist with Juventus in 2015.

“It’s been very special,” he said as we build-up to the final against Liverpool on Saturday. “I can’t describe my emotions. For me, it’s one of the best moments of my career.”

Champions League moments - Fernando on fire

Spurs 2-1 PSV - MD4 - Wembley - 6 November, 2018
Spurs 3-0 BVB - L16, first leg - Wembley - 13 February

It took five minutes combined for Fernando Llorente to make his mark in two matches - and help us take two huge steps on the road to Madrid.

First up, PSV. Needing a win to progress, we were trailing when Fernando entered the fray off the bench on 75 minutes. Three minutes later, he cushioned a pass into the path of Harry Kane, who found the corner from 16 yards. With a minute left, Harry headed home for 2-1. We were alive in the group stage.

Next up, Borussia Dortmund. We were on a crest of a wave when Fernando came off the bench with 84 minutes on the clock in the last 16, first leg at Wembley. Jan Vertonghen had just made it 2-0 and what had been a tough test against the Bundesliga leaders was now in our grip.

Even more so two minutes later when Fernando timed his run to perfection to meet Christian Eriksen’s inswinging corner and glance a header into the far corner. 3-0 was job done as we withstood heavy pressure in the second leg before Harry fired home for 4-0 on aggregate.

“I remember I came into that game so focussed, trying to score,” reflected Fernando. “I tried to get a good position from the corner and run from the second (far) post to the first (near) post. Christian’s corner was perfect and I just touched the ball a little and put the ball into the corner. The first half was difficult. Then the three goals, that was amazing. It was a great result.”

City 4-3 Spurs - QF, second leg - Etihad Stadium - 17 April
4-4 on aggregate, Spurs won on away goals

It was a different story for Fernando on a crazy night at the Etihad. This time, injury to Moussa Sissoko meant he was into the action much earlier than expected, five minutes before half-time.

At that point, the score was 3-2 to City on the night, 3-3 on aggregate and we still led on away goals after our 1-0 win in the first leg. But then City struck again through Sergio Aguero and we were behind in the tie for the first time.

We were on the rack, but then a corner provided an opportunity. Kieran Trippier delivered to the near post and Fernando diverted past Ederson. After a nervous wait for VAR, the goal was awarded, 4-3 on the night, 4-4 on aggregate and we were back ahead on away goals.

City piled forward. They needed a goal. It looked like we’d held out but then in the third minute of added time, disaster struck. Raheem Sterling scored again for City. Our players collapsed. We were heading out. But wait! VAR showed Aguero was offside in the build-up. The goal was disallowed, we held on - we were in the semi-finals!

Fernando recalled: “I was on the bench and didn’t expect to come in so early, but the injury to Moussa Sissoko gave me the possibility. I was ready, very focussed to help the team.

“But we were in a bad moment. City scored to make it 4-2. It was tough for us, they were playing better but then we had the chance from the corner. I just tried to connect with the ball because there were a lot of players in front of me. I could see the ball perfectly, I was in the line of the ball and I managed to divert it into the goal.

“For me, it was a goal, but you never know in that moment. We had to wait two or three minutes, but it was like half-an-hour. Then we celebrated again, unbelievable.”