Ben Davies is daring to dream.
The longest-serving player of the current squad, and just three appearances from becoming our record holder in Europe, the defender has pretty much seen it all in both domestic and European competition since joining us from Swansea in the summer of 2014.
That includes some near misses – the 2019 Champions League Final, League Cup Finals in 2015 and 2021 and five semi-finals that haven’t gone our way – and now, as he sits on 356 appearances and approaches 11 years at the club, he’s there again, just over a week away from the UEFA Europa League Final against Manchester United in Bilbao (21 May).
Had he allowed himself the thought of getting his hands on the trophy? “Yes, I’m not one of those who will try to push it away,” he said. “If anything, you can try to manifest it if you think about the good things, so that’s what I’m sticking to.
“It would be incredible, something… having been involved in a lot of European competitions, you realise how hard it is. To get over the line this time, it would mean so much.
“The teams we’ve had, the players we’ve had, we’ve all dreamt of this but just fallen short. Now we have the chance to do something special, to change the narrative, and we’re all hoping we can do that.”
Now 32, capped 94 times by Wales, with three major tournaments under his belt, including the 2022 World Cup, Ben’s role within the squad has changed over the years. “It’s like a mentor role,” he explained. “I speak to a lot of the boys now about their feelings going into games, after games and sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture and realise for some of these guys the pressure and anxiety that can bring can really challenge them. I’m a calm head who has experienced it and knows you always have the chance to rectify things in the next game.
“It’s a great group. Everyone has gone through highs and lows this season. It’s been really tough at times and, sometimes, that can really bring you together. I’m hoping for one more time it will be a big high.”