Richards missed the Final due to injury, but noted he hopes to be back soon, representing the United States in the World Cup: “That's the plan. I'm probably a few days too early right now, but no, regardless, I'll be flying for the World Cup. I was gutted not to be out there tonight.”
On the overall European journey, however, Richards added: “I think the last two years, I think we've won trophies, but I think it's not just because of how we play, it's because we all enjoy each other, we're all a big family, and I think that's really hard to get.
“When people think of teams, they think about guys who just see each other for a few hours every day, but outside of this club, outside of the training ground, we actually enjoy spending time with each other, and so when you like the person beside you, you want to go out there and fight for them, and that's exactly what we've done for the last two years.
“And when the gaffer \[Oliver Glasner\] came in, told us he wants to win trophies, and we did that, so I mean, there's magic in that.
“I think you couldn't have written a better script than this, you know, winning a European trophy, especially after he's already won one, and everything he's done for this club, and everything he's done for me personally.
“A perfect night – a perfect night.”