Were we watching Man Utd's thrashing by Barcelona? How could we miss it!
May 30 2009 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
OBSERVATIONS from Wednesday night’s Champions League final:
l When Carlos Puyol hoisted the European Cup he did so in front of only a smattering of ManchesterUnited fans because the vast majority of them had already left. Compare and contrast with the scenes in Athens two years earlier where all Liverpool supporters stayed behind to watch and applaud AC Milan as they lifted Europe’s most famous trophy.
l “Paul Scholes, he’s never mastered the art of tackling,” chortled Andy Gray after the United midfielder had scythed down Sergi Busquets.
It was the kind of challenge which Scholes has been making for years only for his malevolence to be continually excused by a succession of commentators.
What would Gray have said about the Boston Strangler? “He still hasn’t mastered the art of cuddling”?
l For the first time in recent weeks, the United fans did not sing Are You Watching Merseyside? Funny that because Merseyside was watching....one of the most one-sided European Cup finals in living memory.
l If £6m Brazilian Lucas ever performed as badly in a major game as £18m Brazilian Anderson he would have been hounded all the way back to Brazil.
l Barcelona played United the team, not United the reputation and won with ease, just as Liverpool did at Old Trafford.
l Why did the British media not ask Alex Ferguson to congratulate his opposing and victorious manager?
Do such forced niceties only apply to Rafa Benitez?
l Sighs of relief could be heard all over the red half of Merseyside when Barcelona’s victory was secured, meaning Liverpool’s 5-3 lead over United in the European Cup remained intact. The Anfield club can’t continue to pray for favours from others, though.
The best way of ensuring that the Reds stay on their European perch is to become masters of their own destiny once again.
There would be no better way of doing this than Rafa Benitez leading them to European Cup No 6 in his Madrid hometown next May.
May 30 2009 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
OBSERVATIONS from Wednesday night’s Champions League final:
l When Carlos Puyol hoisted the European Cup he did so in front of only a smattering of ManchesterUnited fans because the vast majority of them had already left. Compare and contrast with the scenes in Athens two years earlier where all Liverpool supporters stayed behind to watch and applaud AC Milan as they lifted Europe’s most famous trophy.
l “Paul Scholes, he’s never mastered the art of tackling,” chortled Andy Gray after the United midfielder had scythed down Sergi Busquets.
It was the kind of challenge which Scholes has been making for years only for his malevolence to be continually excused by a succession of commentators.
What would Gray have said about the Boston Strangler? “He still hasn’t mastered the art of cuddling”?
l For the first time in recent weeks, the United fans did not sing Are You Watching Merseyside? Funny that because Merseyside was watching....one of the most one-sided European Cup finals in living memory.
l If £6m Brazilian Lucas ever performed as badly in a major game as £18m Brazilian Anderson he would have been hounded all the way back to Brazil.
l Barcelona played United the team, not United the reputation and won with ease, just as Liverpool did at Old Trafford.
l Why did the British media not ask Alex Ferguson to congratulate his opposing and victorious manager?
Do such forced niceties only apply to Rafa Benitez?
l Sighs of relief could be heard all over the red half of Merseyside when Barcelona’s victory was secured, meaning Liverpool’s 5-3 lead over United in the European Cup remained intact. The Anfield club can’t continue to pray for favours from others, though.
The best way of ensuring that the Reds stay on their European perch is to become masters of their own destiny once again.
There would be no better way of doing this than Rafa Benitez leading them to European Cup No 6 in his Madrid hometown next May.
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