This will not be a long blog, as I've just come back from Brandenburg in Germany, trying to beat the traffic in order to watch the Champions League semi-final. Olaf, my German friend in the driver's seat, managed an average speed of 150 km/h including breaks: for me that's not driving fast, but flying low...
Anyway, what a match it was: the build-up was nasty, with José Mourinho and Rafa Benítez giving each other some stick: "Liverpool are favourites because in the year 2007, we've played 27 matches and Liverpool play three or four," being the Special One's cue for a verbal pie-throwing competition.
Let us not take anything away from José Mourinho - he's the best thing to happen to Premiership football in a long time, and long may he remain in his job - but Rafa brings something to the European table that all that Russian money can't buy: the best fans in the world, who sing the most recognisable footballing anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone", the most stable régime in the game (Man Utd apart) but most of all they bring their reputations. Chelsea plays strategically, Man United with flair, Arsenal with... euhm... something anyway, but Liverpool play with their hearts and their supporters assure us of an incomparable atmosphere only matched by the Celtic faithful.
In the 1977 European Cup final, their supporters travelled en masse to Rome for the match. It might as well have been a home game. According to one of the players that day, the team was overwhelmed by the mass of red in the stadium. Their opponents, Borussia Mönchengladbach, were outplayed but also outsung by the Liverpool faithful, losing 3-1 on the night. Since then, they have won four more European Cups. Real Madrid, with nine, is the only team that has won more, but since 1966 only three, making Liverpool FC the most decorated European club in the last 30 years.
Looking through some of the names past and present makes impressive reading: Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Emlyn Hughes, Graeme Souness, Bruce Grobbelaar, Steven Gerrard, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen... The list goes on. But what stands out most for me is the kit. That all-red strip which strikes fear into many opponents in European football. It was, in fact, born in the mid-sixties when Bill Shankly tried out red shorts on one of his players. They were white before then. It was suggested to change the white socks to red and that sealed it. They went out to face Anderlecht dressed for the first time in that renowned outfit.
Despite their reputation in the competition, Liverpool FC might not win the Champions League this year as I've always fancied the winners of Milan and Man Utd to go on to lift the trophy no matter who won the match tonight, but I'm delighted that Liverpool made it there. Although I hope I'm wrong about my prediction! Chelsea is a very defensive team and their supporters pretty subdued. The Reds getting to the final in Athens will mean that at least the atmosphere will be tip top and it should be a much more open game.
I cannot finish this article without a short word about some of the players in the current team: Steven Gerrard is by far superior to Frank Lampard and should always take precedence over him in England matches - he has been their hero on numerous occasions and his never-give-up attitude exemplary. José Reina is one of the top goalkeepers in Europe right now, but with Jamie Carragher in defence, you know the backup is first class. For me, he is the player of the tournament. He has risked injury to clear dangerous balls. He has attempted to defend his goal with military precision and he is not afraid of the odd foot in the face. If he goes down, it's because he really is injured.
So, whoever wins the other semi-final, we are guaranteed a superb final: if Man United get there, the flair of Ronaldo and Rooney will make a photogenic display; if Milan are successful, the skills of Kaká and the sheer doggedness of Gattuso will give us a memorable night. All-in-all, if Liverpool do win the final, it will prove their greatness once and for all.
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