February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Nonetheless, the clever boss decided he would not name his team until today.
“I prefer it that way, it means people work hard right to the end of our training and preparation,” said Rafael Benitez.
Every day the Liverpool players are reminded that they must work harder and improve on their last performance. Benitez is never satisfied and wants his team to be a lot more consistent, as consistency has indeed been Liverpool’s main problem this year.
While the hard grafting has not come through for the Reds on a weekly basis, it has certainly proved its worth in the Champions League. Captain Steven Gerrard has repeatedly said in many an interview throughout the year that, “We just have to work harder.”
While we can expect to see Liverpool’s engine room kick in now and then, in today’s game we can also see Gerrard and company focus on getting compact centrally in front of their own box.
Unfortunately, at least for watching purposes, AC Milan may well want to employ the same tactics. Some expect it to be a very boring affair in Istanbul today, so don’t get your hopes up too high.
It’s more likely that both teams will decline on making it an all-out attacking game. It’s extremely unlikely that they will open up and go all out — this could be one for the strategists. For the fans who like the cat and mouse game, there may be no need to fasten your seatbelt for this ride.
Nevertheless, if there is a reason for the game to go into overdrive with end-to-end stuff, the jury is out on AC Milan. They looked tired against PSV and admitted they were lucky to get past a gallant Dutch outfit who lost on the away goal rule in a 3-3 result. But isn’t that what Italian football is all about?
They always seem to do just about enough to get the result. But that’s not the case for AC in Serie A. Milan looked jaded in the run-in as they threw the title away to Juventus with only 2 points in their last three games. It seems the concerns and worries for AC is on the field, as opposed to Liverpool’s worries, which are off.
There is a lot of talk around Anfield Road these days regarding the players’ future with the club. Many believe that today’s final could be the last time some of the players may kick a ball for Liverpool. If the going gets tough, this will cross some of their minds.
In particular, it’s not good for Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzey Dudek, though there are also other players whose futures are in jeopardy. There has been much speculation about Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell, Vladimir Smicer, Anthony Le Tallec and even Milan Baros. But the biggest concern in the Liverpool camp is where will their captain go. It’s not the kind of preparation Liverpool need before a big game.
While is seems on the surface that there are no head games before the game, AC Milan head coach Carlo Ancelloti managed to play a little tongue-in-cheek when he said,
“Steven Gerrard is a great player. He is undoubtedly one of the best midfield players in the world. Of course any top club would want him in their side… right now he is a Liverpool player and I am not going to upset Liverpool by talking any more about him. But it will be different if he decides in the summer that he wants to leave Liverpool.”
After all that is said and done, the now of both teams will take the field, and once the whistle blows, there will be little or no distractions. However, once the game is over we can revisit some of the above to perhaps find a reason or two as to the outcome.
The real concern for all involved is that there is no violence. It is believed that because there is no Turkish team in the final, the event should be trouble free, though that’s hard to believe. Is UEFA saying if a Turkish team made the final, there would be violence?
Violence in Turkey has meant children being shot when fans fire guns into the air to celebrate, like in the Old West of lore. In separate incidents, children were on a balcony when the so-called stray bullets hit them. Let’s hope the so-called fans that carry guns do not attend the game today.
Thousands of Liverpool and AC fans without tickets are making the trip despite being told not to travel. The diehards are making their way to Atatulrk Stadium in the hopes of buying a black market ticket. Getting ripped off is the last of their thoughts, never mind getting hurt. Liverpool and AC are said to be popular teams in Turkey. The biggest club party is about to begin — let’s hope fans and locals behave themselves after the game.
RIO’S TEARS OF GUILT
It seems Rio Ferdinand is staying with Manchester United. Unable to hold back his tears, Ferdinand looked a pitiful sight after his team lost on penalties to Arsenal in the FA Cup Final.
Now the news has it that the central defender is keener than ever before to win trophies at Old Trafford after the loss. So all the rumors that he was moving on are indeed just that — rumors.
After pretty much dominating most of, if not all of the game, United lost 5-4 on penalty kicks when Arsenal’s keeper, Jens Lehmann, saved a Paul Scholes penalty. Rather than placement, Scholes went for power leaving the strike within the keeper’s reach. As the teams gathered for the shoot-out, one sensed that the Gunners keeper was favorite to win the game because that’s what he had been doing for 120 minutes before the spot kicks.
The game summed up United’s season of dominating opponents, but not able to capitalize. As for Rio’s tears, perhaps he felt a little guilty for missing out on a chunk of the season because he refused to take a drug test.