Liverpool FC - Euro Red Diary 14

by Joel Rookwood

UEFA Super Cup Monaco Liverpool v CSKA Moscow

Liverpool fans in Monaco. I don't think I would have been the only Scouser to predict that Jamie Carragher would begin the season lifting the Super Cup for Liverpool.

Following yet another ‘will he sign or will he sell his soul' close season for club captain Ste Gerrard, many thought the legendary centre half from Bootle would instead be named captain following the departure of the Two-Dogs midfield pit-bull. Thankfully the Liverpool skipper's admittance from the line-up in Monaco for the Super Cup was due only to minor injury, and not major disloyalty.

Proving that being a Liverpudlian demands a commitment to the course, Gerrard will remain the heartbeat of the Liverpool side. Evertonians take note; whether it's Ball, Jeffers or Rooney, not even former Gladys Street lads want to stick around to play for you – but then I suppose those of a blue persuasion would always point to success and loyalty going hand in hand. And for all that may have tempted Gerrard to leave during the summer, there is one related factor that may have impacted on his decision to stay put. Oh, did I mention that we are European Champions?

Our quest to see the vice captain lift his first trophy, involved us performing the first of two duties of European Champions: to beat the UEFA Cup winners in a meaningless match in the glamorous principality of Monaco (the second by the way is to retain the competition. If you are reading this after May 2006, you can read about our sixth European Cup win in Paris at the following link…). The Super Cup trip began then with a flight to Milan, really just so we could sing: “Milano, Milano, you never won a Cupo” dead loud at daft o'clock in the morning.

Following last season‘s journey to Italy‘s North West, with the infamous Juventus game and the Milan derby that preceded it, this now felt like familiar territory. Yet despite our fondness for the place, we restricted our stay in the football capital of Italy to a single night, much to Milan's relief, and caught an early morning train, a journey memorable only for our continuous attempts to strike up conversations with beautiful brunettes.

Now knowing Monaco was as dry as the ink on the last stamp on an Evertonian's passport – something we had learned the hard way in last seasons Champions League – we headed straight for the pick-pocket capital of the Riviera, the aptly named Port of Nice. It was there we spent the afternoon, feeling like we owned the place, the town overrun with Scousers, and not a Russian in sight.

However when we crossed the border into the principality, whilst trying to dodge the Ferraris, we couldn't help but notice the hoards of huge Eastern Europeans tripping over themselves on every square inch of pavement. To our shock we were totally outnumbered by Muscovites.

The UEFA Charity Shield clearly wasn't top of the Scousers list of ‘must see' events for 2005, with the economically challenging Champions League final in May, the financially crippling World Club Championship and of course the inescapable dozen games against Chelsea taking precedent for many.

The Russians on the other hand had come in their droves. Having spent the previous three months coaching football in Russian speaking countries, I decided to shock a few ‘SISKA' fans by holding a conversation or two with some in their native tongue. Those who were sober enough to realise I was English were mildly amused. Those who weren't were mildly confused. Either way, it gave the lads a laugh – although one of my mates was heard to say, “I didn't know you spoke French Joe.” Boy, was I mildly bemused.

Once in the ground we took our places, located halfway up the fence at the front of the Liverpool end (it's what it said on me ticket, honest). There we awaited the entrance of captain Carra and co. Unfortunately whilst Jamie was his reliable self, several of his colleagues didn't show up until the concluding stages of the ninety minutes. For it was until the latter stages of the game that Liverpool trailed to a single first half goal.

The introduction of Sissoko and Cisse certainly changed the game however, with the former taking control of an uninventive midfield and the latter grabbing two goals, one prior to and one during extra time, to help secure an eleventh European trophy for the continent's premier club. Luis Garcia added third, heading home a Cisse cross near the end to put the game further beyond CSKA. Then, if the icing on the cake was Carragher lifting the Cup, surely Morientes bringing it round for me to personally get my hands on was the candles on the icing. It certainly stirred up some jealous reaction from the part-timers watching back home to see me grasping the miniature silverware.

Having been defeated in their cup final, the few Russians who remained had little choice but to wallow in self pity, whilst the cocky Scousers sang ensured the words “We are the Champions, Champions of Europe” echoed around the ground and the entire Riviera long into the night. Something tells me we'll be singing that at every ground this season. So then, were you watching Everton? With that the Scouse contingent sauntered off into the night, many of us reflecting on a new Liverpool banner which simply read, “Normal Service Resumed.” I couldn't agree more. Right must be off, I've got to book me hotel in Paris for next May.

Joel Rookwood

You've read the piece; now have your say; contact the author.

The views expressed are those of the individual author.