Campbell on our UCL chances and Saliba and Gabriel | Interview | News
Sol Campbell knows a thing or two about playing in a big Champions League semi-final in Spain.
As Jens Lehmann plunged to his left to thwart Juan Roman Riquelme’s penalty in Villarreal, the ball still needed clearing as it came back into play. Fortunately, our number 23 was on hand to prevent Jose Mari getting a shot away on the rebound – helping us secure our trip to Paris back in 2006.
“I had to be alert after Jens’ save,” Sol recalls. “If I’m not there, he gets that ball, and there’s another shot on goal. It was an incredible night, we stood firm, and Villarreal were an excellent side.”
We return to Spain for our Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid, almost 20 years on from our heroics in Villarreal, looking for a positive outcome in our bid to reach the final in Budapest on May 30.
Read more
20 years on: An iconic UCL semi-final in Spain
Sol netted our only Champions League final goal against Barcelona in 2006, but the ex-England international is hoping our current crop can go all the way.
“Hopefully, they can get through this round and then get to the final. It’d be a great honour to witness them win it. Hopefully, they’ll get there. Obviously, you need a bit of luck to go your way.
“We had the chances (in 2006) to finish them off. Whatever reason, we just didn’t. We just needed one more to go in, and that’d be it. We just couldn’t get over the line. I still think about it now, but we had our chances.”
We’re still fighting on two fronts as we look to end a 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
Sol was part of the team that won our last league title in 2004, and as we approach the final four matches of the domestic season, the 51-year-old feels moments of magic could be the difference.
“I think the main thing is to put your best foot forward. You’ve got to leave space to allow the quality of individual skill to come out to make the difference. When it’s the run-in, you’ve got to be solid. But when opportunities appear, go for it, and feel the moments.
“(It’s about) creating a legacy and saying, ‘wow, this is what it’s all about’. This is what I’ve dreamt about for all my life, about winning and being at the sharp end of a season, and the possibility of doing something that not many football players have done.”
Campbell played alongside some greats of the game at the back in N5, and has been mightily impressed with our centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel.
He said: “I feel they have grown in stature, and they’ve done a wonderful job. Arteta’s done an incredible job, they’ve really cemented themselves as one of the best partnerships.
“They just need to win things to cement that as well. We can all see what they’ve done. They’ve played incredibly well this season, as a pairing, they’re one of the best for sure. They’re a brilliant set of lads, level-headed guys, hopefully they can get a trophy in their hands to really say: ‘look at the hard work we’ve done.'”
Sol was speaking to us ahead of the launch of his new documentary series, Legends Corner and Legends Corner Plus, with the first episode featuring Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee in Brooklyn, New York.
The documentary is an intimate, no-holds-barred series that sees Campbell come face-to-face with some of his fiercest rivals. Through candid conversations, the series explores the mindset that defined elite competitors, the battles that shaped their careers, and how they’ve rebuilt their lives beyond the game. Future episodes will feature football greats Christian Vieri, Andy Cole, and Dwight Yorke, with more to come.
Commenting on the launch of his new series this month, Sol said: “Legends Corner is about honesty, rivalry and respect. I wanted to sit down with people who pushed me to my limits and really understand what drove them – not just on the pitch, but in life.
“Legends Corner Plus is about exploring cultural icons who have stayed true to their values and made a lasting impact. Starting with Spike, he sets the tone perfectly – he’s someone who’s stood by his beliefs and created a legacy far beyond his field.”
The documentary series will be available to watch globally on YouTube, making it accessible to fans worldwide. Episodes will roll out across the official Legends Corner channel, allowing audiences to engage directly with the stories, conversations and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments as they are released.
Tune into episode one by pressing play on the video below now:
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