“He Truly Earned It, Not Me”: Szoboszlai Hands MOTM Award to Liverpool Star After Galatasaray Masterclass
ANFIELD — On a night where the floodlights seemed to shine a little brighter, Dominik Szoboszlai proved he is a leader both on and off the pitch. Despite scoring the opening goal that ignited Liverpool’s 4-0 demolition of Galatasaray, the Hungarian captain made headlines for an incredible gesture in the tunnel after the final whistle.
As officials prepared to hand Szoboszlai the UEFA Man of the Match trophy for his relentless performance in the 4-1 aggregate comeback, the midfielder reportedly declined the honor, pointing instead to a teammate he believes was the true architect of the victory.
> “I’ve handed the Man of the Match award to him because he’s the one who truly earned it, not me. He genuinely saved Liverpool today,” Szoboszlai revealed in a post-match interview that has since gone viral.
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The Great Comeback: How the Reds Overturned the Deficit
Following a frustrating 1-0 loss in Istanbul last week, Arne Slot’s men faced immense pressure to deliver at Anfield. The tension was palpable until the 25th minute, when Szoboszlai unleashed a trademark strike to level the tie.
However, the game wasn’t just about the goals. While Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch, and Mohamed Salah (who netted his historic 50th UCL goal) dominated the scoresheet in the second half, Szoboszlai insists the foundation of the win was laid at the back.
The Unsung Hero: Who Did Szoboszlai Credit?
While the “official” MOTM award usually goes to a goalscorer, Szoboszlai’s comments have fans pointing toward Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian goalkeeper produced two world-class saves early in the match while the score was still 0-0—denying Mauro Icardi from point-blank range—preventing a Galatasaray away goal that would have likely ended Liverpool’s European dreams.
“Today we showed the right direction where we want to go,” Szoboszlai added. “From the first minute, we were on them. I took the first-leg result personally, and I think we all did. But without [him] keeping us in it early on, the comeback doesn’t happen.”
What’s Next for the Reds?
With this emphatic victory, Liverpool marches into the Champions League Quarter-Finals, where a mouth-watering clash against holders Paris Saint-Germain awaits.
The “Anfield Effect” was in full force tonight, and with Szoboszlai pulling the strings—and showing this level of squad unity—the Reds look like a team capable of reclaiming their European crown.
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