Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has sent his congratulations to his old club following their FA Cup final win over Chelsea.
Benitez was the last Liverpool manager to win the FA Cup after his side beat West Ham United on penalties at the Millennium Stadium back in 2006. Steven Gerrard scored a stoppage-time equaliser before the Reds won the shootout thanks to Pepe Reina’s heroics.
The Reds again needed penalties at Wembley after 120 minutes of football couldn’t separate the two teams at the home of English football. It was a repeat of the Carabao Cup from back in February.
FA CUP FINAL LIVE: All the reaction from Wembley after Liverpool beat Chelsea
The spot-kicks eventually went to sudden death after both Cesar Azpilicueta and Sadio Mane missed in the opening 10 penalties. But after Mason Mount saw his effort saved by Alisson Becker, Konstantinos Tsimikas was handed the opportunity to win the cup for the Reds, and he coolly converted from 12-yards-out.
And in the immediate aftermath to the win, Benitez wrote on Twitter: “Congratulations to @liverpool_fc #YNWA.”
Speaking after the game, Reds skipper Jordan Henderson said: "We're here to lift trophies, we work so hard all season. To come here and get over the line means a lot to everyone. The fans deserve it, the whole club.
"It's a big moment for us, we haven't been in this final for some time so to win it was special. It was difficult, we knew it would be. We've had so many games in a short space of time.
"It was a big blow with Mo going off and Fab last week. But that's what we're all about, the attitude and mentality to keep going and to dig in when it's tough. So to win it on penalties is incredible. All credit to the boys.”
