Champions League 2006 -7 - Euro Red Diary 25

by Joel Rookwood

Chelsea v Liverpool: UEFA Champions League Semi-Final

As I walked towards the Paisley gates, I turned the familiar left turn onto the even more familiar Lake Street, as fortress Anfield, with all its history and hysterical supporters, lay before me. Almost immediately I was overcome with that sense of anticipation, as if I was about to witness something earth shattering, a moment in time that defines an era.

For so long a succession of Liverpool teams had failed to live up to the weight of expectation, forced as they have been to follow in the foot steps of a dynasty of greatness, represented in manager and player. Year after year our loyal supporters have had to look on with envious eyes as captains of continental clubs from Munich to Madrid have lifted the European Cup each May. As I began to climb the ageing steps of the Main Stand at Anfield that night, something inside me told me the wait and the weight was soon to fade.

Liverpool played host to Chelsea that evening, with the newly crowned champions of England, just as they had done in the first leg in London, failing to breakthrough a resolute Liverpool defence. In the midst of an electric atmosphere, Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal was lucky not to be sent off, as he brought down Milan Baros in the penalty area in the opening minutes of the match. Chelsea and their ‘keeper escaped punishment for the offence, but in the confusion, Garcia, who had subsequently managed to bundle the ball over the line, celebrated Liverpool's opening and ultimately decisive goal.

The arrogance that Chelsea have become synonymous with did not desert them as Liverpool humbly but confidently reflected upon a deserved victory after the match. Mourinho secured the championship for his club four days earlier, but could not find it in him to admit that he and his team had been out-thought, outplayed and outsung over the two legs.

The Chelsea manager did however manage to be outspoken, uttering gibberish about how “the best team lost." Liverpool were set to play in the European Cup final, and with that realisation now firmly rooted in the consciousness of the Liverpool faithful, the ground shook like never before. With all its illustrious past, thanks to Benitez the class of 2005 had superseded all its previous accomplishments, transforming oblivion to ecstasy in nine months.

The most memorable final in the competition's fifty-year history followed, as Liverpool came from three goals down to beat the mighty Milan on penalties. I saw every moment of that push for glory, from the first leg of the qualifier against Graz, to the decisive penalty miss from Shevchenko in Istanbul. And yet, as incredible as that final was, and for all that triumph did in cementing Liverpool's place at the pinnacle of European football, it was the victory in the semi-final that stands out as my favourite moment in football. It wouldn't surprise me if I am still echoing those sentiments in fifty years.

Two years after that incredible encounter, Benitez and Mourinho locked horns again at the same stage of the competition, with both managers knowing that a place in the Champions League awaited the victors. In the days leading up to the first leg, the tie was predictably discussed in the context of revenge. Surely, Mourinho could not succumb to his Spanish counterpart in three successive semi-finals? Surely Chelsea could not lose at the penultimate stage of Europe's premier competition for the third time in four seasons? Once again, Rafa had the answers.

For many of the travelling Kop, the opening encounter at Stamford Bridge was overshadowed by some overzealous policing from a police force so keen to control the movements of the away support, that their attempts to facilitate mass restrictions of liberty are now the subject of a number of court cases. The legal term ‘disproportionate' does not come close to describing the conduct of a number of officers that day.

In the stadium, the Liverpool team were fairly solid, though offered precious little in attacking threat. Their hosts were similarly unadventurous, although they did manage to score against Liverpool in the European cup, at last. The excellent, albeit irritating, Drogba made the goal, putting it on a plate for Joe Cole who dispatched the game's only goal with ease. The home support waved their pathetic official blue flags (which embarrassingly had been provided by the club), assuming that this single goal had secured the Londoners a place in the final for the first time.

In the return leg, Benitez and his team however, suggested otherwise. A compact and determined Liverpool side were not about to let slip their chance to bring the cup back to Anfield by losing out in their own back yard, a point emphasised when Daniel Agger coolly slotted home from a free-kick with a quarter of the game gone to level the tie on aggregate. Neither team could add anything of quantitative significance to the score sheet, not even during extra time.

And so, incredibly, the fate of the European campaigns of both teams was to be decided with penalty kicks. Liverpool had achieved considerable success in their last two European cup finals, with victories in both secured in the emotional rollercoaster ride that only penalties can provide. We were not about to be denied a place in our seventh final via the same route. Even though the kicks were taken close to where the Chelsea fans were sat, the deafening atmosphere was clearly too much for the former champions, as Liverpool once again were victorious.

Immediately after the game, fans excitedly discussed details of how they could get to the final, in what will not doubt prove a mass Athens exodus, with others reflecting on this highly satisfying victory over Chelsea. Inevitably, comparisons were made in this latter regard to 2005 and the first time we dumped Chelsea out of Europe. General consensus seemed to suggest that the more recent victory was the more meaningful, given that we had to come from behind. For me however, despite this developing frame of reference, the 3rd May 2005 will always remain my greatest night in football.

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The Chelsea team looked as dejected in defeat as they were two years ago, but again claimed afterwards that they had been the better side. Mourinho was not the only one to react bitterly to Liverpool's victory. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson couldn't resist letting the world know that he will open a bottle of wine (probably before breakfast knowing Alex) after Liverpool lose to Milan in the final. Even more sensationally, former Madrid employee Jorge Valdano made the following comment:

"Football is made up of subjective feeling, of suggestion - and, in that, Anfield is unbeatable. Put a s*** hanging from a stick in the middle of this passionate, crazy stadium and there are people who will tell you it's a work of art. It's not: it's a s*** hanging from a stick. Chelsea and Liverpool are the clearest, most exaggerated example of the way football is going: very intense, very collective, very tactical, very physical, and very direct," he added. "But, a short pass? Noooo. A feint? Noooo. A change of pace? Noooo. A one-two? A nutmeg? A backheel? Don't be ridiculous. None of that. The extreme control and seriousness with which both teams played the semi-final neutralised any creative licence, any moments of exquisite skill."

Benitez will be hanging his carefully crafted side from a stick in Athens tomorrow night. As for Valdano, and not to mention Munich, Madrid, Manchester and Mourinho, well, just as it was two years ago, it is your turn again to glance enviously in our direction. At the risk of sounding like a smart arse, I will end the latest edition of my column by reflecting on the concluding lines of my first article of the season. Having beaten PSV on September 12th I wrote: "Having made a host of promising signings in the summer, Benitez looks far closer to emulating the success that he achieved in this competition some fifteen months ago. After Match Day One, the travelling Reds are confident we can do just that, winning a sixth trophy in Athens on May 23rd. Remember, you heard it here first." "Well said that man, well said.

Joel Rookwood

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