February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
When was the last time we heard the flamboyant Portuguese coach speak the way he did before the CL semi? He certainly was not himself on Sky Sports when he made that statement. Perhaps the one-time physical educator knew that his team was tired. The end of Chelsea’s season had taken its toll. Winning the league three days beforehand didn’t help either.
Missing the likes of Damien Duff and Arjen Robben on the wings didn’t help Mourinho’s game plan. With no wide offensive outlets Chelsea had to adjust their team shape and strategies going forward. It also demanded more awareness in defense throughout the team as a whole. Liverpool was more than ready to handle any danger coming through the middle of the field. One senses that, as the second leg drew closer, Mourinho realized the opposition was going to be a lot tougher than he originally expected. One of the most confident managers in the game was not so confident any more. He was not talking the talk, even though his team entered the game as favorites – the kind of pressure his team could have done without.
Liverpool scored an early goal when in the 4th minute Luis Garcia appeared out of nowhere and helped the ball over the line. There was still more than enough time for Chelsea to get even. A 1-1 was good enough for the Blues. But breaking down Liverpool became an extremely tough task. The Reds looked prepared to defend all the way back to their own goal line. At times Anfield looked like Custer’s Last Stand. But somehow Liverpool held out. Reds keeper Jerzey Dudek came up trumps a few times and hardly put a foot wrong.
Dietmar Hamaan returned to the line up replacing Xabi Alonso. Hamann was outstanding. Throughout the first half, the experienced midfielder appeared in the right place at the right time to intercept Chelsea’s attack. Liverpool was winning the midfield battle until Hamann was taken out in the second half. He was exhausted. Chelsea began to get closer to the box. For Liverpool to hold on to their slight advantage their back line was called upon. And did they perform?
Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Steve Finnan and Djimi Traore were making tackles, winning balls and keeping matters very aggressive as the game wore on. The Reds held out, winning most 50/50 balls. Rafael Benitez got it right. He had his team defend at all costs and it paid off. Chelsea became predictable. Their players looked frustrated at times. Liverpool it seemed had their number.
But as Mourinho said: the Blues are still heroes; they have broken a 50-year spell to win the league. And it’s the league Chelsea wanted more than anything else.
Chelsea’s title is special for the club and for football. They have been a great side to watch, somewhat better than Liverpool.
The Blues however came up against something that is just as special at Liverpool FC, and that’s a longing for European success. Of course the Reds still have to win the CL with a formidable AC Milan standing in their way. The final is on May 25 in Istanbul at the Ataturk Olimpiyat. Liverpool are going to need all the support they can get for that one – a support that did not disappoint last time out against Chelsea.
It was absolutely wonderful to see all the red scarves held aloft with pride around the Anfield ground. It was spectacular. And when the Liverpool anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” belted out it must have sent a few goose pimples down the arms of the Chelsea players and staff. Mourinho and co. realized that they had entered more than a boot room built on memories. Anfield support felt like its glory days in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The Liverpool support played its role. And, yes, it was as if they had an extra player out there. It certainly looked that way in their box as the 90 minutes ticked away.
“It’s a dream,” Rafael Benitez said when he landed the job as Liverpool coach. “I didn’t come here to learn English. I want to win,” the soft-spoken coach said. “When I see the club, I see the history,” he said. He certainly got a real feel for it before kicking off against Chelsea.
Benitez came through the ranks of Spanish football. Starting at age 28 in 1989, he had jobs at Real Madrid, coaching the B team and youths. He went on to coach Valencia to the 2002 CL final. Not even Valencia’s additional honors of La Liga Champions and UEFA Cup winners could stop Benitez moving to the legendary Liverpool and the man himself in tears. It’s all ahead of him now. He has secured his spot at the helm of the ‘Pool. He might even join the club’s managerial hall of fame should he win the CL.
Form, however, in the league has a question mark over it. But a glance at the squad that Benitez has built is looking more and more dangerous. If the crafty coach can produce such magnificent performances in Europe with an injured squad and some ineligibility, imagine what he can do with a full squad.
Mourinho, the man who got his break in football as a translator for Bobby Robson at PSV Eindhoven, will be back; all of us know that. That will be Liverpool’s concern next year, and the rest of the league for that matter. After Everton won fourth spot for CL qualification, Liverpool can now totally concentrate on their clash AC Milan.
Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini run the AC defense. Benitez and Liverpool have some serious homework to figure out how to break through and test the improving Brazilian keeper Dida. Liverpool also has to stop the goal-scoring machine Andriy Shevchenko. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, a true Milanista? played for AC at the turn of the 1990s. He came out of the coaching shadows of football when he led Milan to victory over Juventus in the 2003 CL. Something magic is in the air for Liverpool, though. And they will never walk alone no matter where they go, and that includes Istanbul.