Jurgen Klopp questioned whether Borussia Dortmund were on the end of the "worst decision in history" after they lost their last Champions League final back in 2013.
The Bundesliga side blossomed to reach an all-German final that was eventually won by Bayern Munich, who completed an iconic treble by securing success at Wembley. The Bavarians had topped Dortmund domestically - and did so in Europe 11 years ago.
Arjen Robben came up with a late winner after Ilkay Gundogan had levelled from the spot in the second-half, cancelling out Mario Mandzukic's opener.
Dortmund's penalty though, in the eyes of many, should've cost their opponents more than a goal. Marco Reus, who will leave Dortmund at the end of the season, was put through and Bayern's Dante attempted to close him down, but got it badly wrong.
Reus was first to the ball and, after he nudged it ahead, Dante fired a high foot into the midsection of the Dortmund star, who was left on the ground in pain. The Bayern man was already on a yellow card and was the last remaining defender, but the referee refused to brandish a red card.
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Gary Neville on commentary said he "bottled it" as Dortmund were left to play against 11 men, which proved crucial in the final stages as Bayern flooded forward to land their winning goal.
Klopp said afterwards: "I saw it in the game and I was sure you can give a second yellow card and when I saw it on television I thought you had to give it. In the history of football there were refereeing decisions worse than this. Eleven against 10 after that we are the winner? I don't know."
Dante scythed down Marco Reus - but escaped any cardFormer Premier League referee Graham Poll said: "Weak refereeing may well have cost Borussia Dortmund the Champions League final." Klopp would never reach such heights again with the German outfit, leaving two years later.
The charismatic manager had captured Europe with Dortmund, who had unearthed gems like Robert Lewandowski, enjoying a sensational run to the final. They saw off Real Madrid in the semis with Lewandowski netting four goals in a 4-1 hammering.
The Dortmund boss, in defiant mood, said: "We will come back, maybe not to Wembley but we will try to come back to another final. The team played a great game, they gave everything they had. They really deserved to equalise. I feel pride comes up in me and sadness goes way. It was a great season from my team and a really great match, perhaps the best match against Bayern in the Champions League this season."
Borussia Dortmund lost to a late goal - when their opponents should've been a man downKlopp knew his side were likely to be raided. Even before the final it was announced that Mario Gotze, then one of the most exciting players in Europe, was leaving to join their arch rivals Bayern. 12 months later and Lewandowski would follow suit.
The German joked that he'd be in the market, searching for new recruits. "Now we have to go on holiday, buy some players because others clubs want our players," he smiled. "Next week I have much work to build a new team and then I hope I am on holiday. I think we'll get a pretty decent team together, I wouldn't worry about that."
After leaving Dortmund and joining Liverpool Klopp would find himself in three more Champions League finals. Real Madrid denied him in 2018 and 2022 but in 2019 the German was able to land the trophy he so desired, guiding the Reds to victory over Tottenham in Madrid.
Dortmund meanwhile return to a Champions League final for the first time since that 2013 loss. They're only European Cup success came back in 1997.
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