Paolo Maldini is lifting the UEFA Champions League Cup as I write this...
It was a hard game to watch as a Liverpool fan. In fact, I believe it was as hard as a Milan fan watching that Champions League Final 2 years ago...
Tactics:
Rafa got it spot-on!
Milan like to play with very attacking full-backs and becos of this, Liverpool's counter-attacks are concentrated on the right with the Milan right-back, Jankulovski high up in Liverpool's half. Without Jankulovski, Pennant bombed forward at every opportunity, delivering deep crosses at Gerrard on the far left, with Kuyt waiting in the centre. Mascherano was immense, bossing the midfield and snapping at the heels of Kaka & company.
Personnel-wise:
I felt Crouch could have started - his aerial presence was sorely missed. Everybody gave their all but some are just not good enuff - Rafa, please do NOT renew Zenden's contract. We need a striker - a finisher. Also, wingers - tricky ones ala Cristiano Ronaldo.
Football's a funny sport:
2 years ago, Milan was definitely the better side but Liverpool won.
Today, Liverpool controlled the game, was arguably the better side but Milan won.
Credit to Milan:
Their 1st goal was freakishly lucky, to have that Pirlo free-kick deflected off Inzaghi, into the net. But Alonso did foul Kaka on the edge of the box. Milan then proceeded to keep the ball from Liverpool.
That 2nd goal = classic Inzaghi. "Tricky, tricky" (Marcel Desailly described Inzaghi in one of the pre-match interviews). Initially offside, Inzaghi walked back onside, and made a diagonal run in between the centre-backs to receive the pass from Kaka. Carragher tried to play the offside trap but it was too late...
We gotta keep our heads up. Score stands at AC Milan 1 - Liverpool FC 1. See ya next year...
Remember - YNWA!!!
Walk on through the wind
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
