Will they still
walk hand in hand?
MAY 26
What next for
Rafa's revolution?
By Ian Hughes - BBC Sport Online
It was no Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope style tactic which
secured Liverpool's fifth European Cup on Wednesday.
Indeed, AC Milan's three-knockdown, first-half onslaught
would have ended the contest on a technical knockout had
these heavyweight teams been boxers.
Liverpool sustained a bloody nose in the opening minute
when Paolo Maldini opened the scoring and a one-two from
Hernan Crespo almost finished the job.
But somehow, in a tale more unlikely than a Rocky film,
the men from Anfield went from losers to bruisers after
the interval.
Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso restored
parity before keeper Jerzy Dudek's saves delivered the
sucker punch in the penalty shoot-out which left Milan
out for the count.
But amid the ecstatic celebrations, what is the future
for the new European champions, who may not be able to
defend the trophy after only finishing fifth in the
Premiership?
It is a remarkable fairytale which will go down in
Merseyside folklore, but was it a fluke as Arsenal's
Arsene Wenger intimated?
And is it a future which includes captain Gerrard as the
key piece in manager Rafael Benitez's puzzle?
THE RAFA
REVOLUTION
It has been a staggering season for debutants in the
English game.
Jose Mourinho led Chelsea to their first title for 50
years, yet Benitez trumped that achievement by landing
the Champions League.
Benitez's success in taking an under-performing rag-bag
of a squad and fashioning, with the astute signings of
Alonso and Luis Garcia, an all-conquering clique is the
work of a genius.
After their semi-final win over Chelsea, Liverpool chief
executive Rick Parry hailed the Spaniard as the finest
manager in the world.
He told BBC Sport: "We hired him because he's the best.
"A manager can program and create the right environment.
And in Rafa, we know we have the right man."
Who is going to argue now?
By masterminding victories over Bayer Leverkusen,
Juventus, Chelsea and AC Milan, Benitez has sent his
reputation into the stratosphere - and restored
Liverpool's as a giant of the European game.
And Benitez proved he has the ability to change a match
with his tactical nous and ability to instill belief in
the hopeless (as some players surely must have been at
half-time).
Yes, he erred by gambling on starting with Harry Kewell
on Wednesday.
The Australian was roundly booed and some have suggested
his injury, which ended his part in the match, was
psychosomatic.
But the way Benitez shuffled the team and then
galvanised his over-run midfield with the introduction
of Dietmar Hamman, was sublime.
That's without mentioning what must have been a Winston
Churchill-esque team talk at half time.
The courage, never-say-die-spirit, commitment and heart
of Liverpool's players is a tribute to Benitez's
leadership.
The self-confessed football anorak, who claims to
sometimes shout out tactics in his sleep, has sent out a
wake-up call to his profession.
While Liverpool and their fans are in dreamland, Benitez
is no doubt already devising a winning formula for next
season's Premiership campaign.
Mourinho won the Uefa Cup in 2003, the Champions League
in 2004 and the Premiership in 2005.
Benitez claimed the Uefa Cup in 2004, the Champions
League in 2005 - what odds on him matching Mourinho's
hat-trick?
CAPTAIN
FANTASTIC
The sound of "You'll never walk alone" ringing out
around Istanbul as Gerrard lifted the European Cup was
sweet, sweet music to Merseyside's ears.
And Gerrard supplied the prefect encore when he said:
"How can I leave Liverpool after a night like this?
"This is the greatest night of my life and I can't see
myself leaving now."
That declaration could end speculation that Liverpool's
soul will remain at Anfield next season.
The 24-year-old was on the verge of joining Chelsea last
year.
And earlier this season, he re-fuelled rumours he would
head to Stamford Bridge when he expressed his desire to
be part of a Champions League-winning team.
The irony is overwhelming.
Yet, despite his insistence that "I will be having talks
with the chairman and the manager shortly, but it is
looking good", Gerrard may still be tempted to move.
Should Europe's governing body stick to their rules and
not allow Liverpool entry into the Champions league,
will Gerrard stick with the Reds?
Benitez insists Gerrard is a key player and he will
fight to keep one of the world's finest midfielders as
he looks to build a Championship-winning side.
Smicer, almost certainly, and possibly Kewell will leave
Liverpool in the close-season and Benitez will be
desperate Gerrard does not follow them.
Even with Liverpool's coffers being boosted by a
possible £45m after their European exploits, Benitez
would find his skipper hard to replace.
But will Gerrard wait for another chance at European
glory, to show he can compete and conquer on the biggest
stage?
The England international is coveted by the world's
biggest clubs for his drive, passion, ability and
influence.
All of those assets were demonstrated on Wednesday as he
dragged his side back from the dead - how typical that
it was his header which began the comeback.
Chelsea and Real Madrid are bound to come knocking
again, the question is whether Gerrard can resist.
If he leaves, his absence will create a massive void at
Anfield and could halt the Rafa revolution.
MAY 26
Dudek
grabs Grob's vote
TEAMtalk
Legendary Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar
insists Champions League hero Jerzy Dudek "did a much
better job" than he did when the Reds won the
competition in 1984.
He described Dudek's unconventional posturing in the
penalty shoot-out as "like a starfish with jelly legs".
Grobbelaar inspired Liverpool to European Cup glory
against Roma 21 years ago after a penalty shoot-out, and
in Istanbul Dudek did the same against AC Milan.
The Pole's heroics capped an historic night which saw
Liverpool come from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3,
before the game was decided by spot-kicks.
Dudek copied Grobbelaar's bizarre tactic from the Reds'
last European Cup win by waving his arms around and
wobbling his legs as the Milan penalty takers
approached.
Serginho missed Milan's first penalty before Dudek saved
from Andrea Pirlo and Ukrainian star Andriy Shevchenko.
"He did a much better job than I did," said Grobbelaar.
"He looked like a starfish with jelly legs to me but it
worked.
"This must be a hell of a high for him, and the double
save against Shevchenko in extra-time was one of the
best I've ever seen."
Of the victory, Grobbelaar said: "This is much better
than anything we did. No-one has ever come back like
that in the European final."
Dudek revealed after the match that defender Jamie
Carragher suggested before the spot-kicks he copy
Grobbelaar's stance.
Grobbelaar added: "Apparently he was told to do what
Bruce Grobbelaar did in 1984 and the boy did it.
"The rules have changed, the keeper can go across the
line, and he put the first one (Serginho) off and saved
two critical penalties."
The Zimbabwean also admitted it was then Liverpool
manager Joe Fagan who gave him the idea in Italy 21
years ago.
"Joe Fagan said to me 'we can't stop them hitting the
target from 12 yards, if they don't they shouldn't be
playing'," said Grobbelaar.
"As I was walking away, he said 'you've done your job,
we're not going to blame you, just try to put them off',
and that stuck in my head.
"The two people who I did put off were Italian
internationals Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani. If
they didn't take the pressure then it's not my fault.
"The Italians, the guys that missed the penalties, you
could see in their faces they were not confident of
hitting the target and they didn't. Dudek saved two and
put the first person off. It was magnificent."
Dudek has been at Anfield since 2001 and has experienced
a mixed four years, occasionally making crucial errors.
He is expected by some to leave the club this summer and
Grobbelaar said: "I've heard rumours he might be going.
"I wish him all the very best if he goes, we must think
about the fact he helped Liverpool win the Champions
League. And hopefully Uefa will allow Liverpool to
defend it next year.
"You must say it must be the most magnificent comeback
in the history of the Champions League. Three down at
half-time and you bring on a person that I regard should
have started, (Dietmar) Hamann, which stabilised the
midfield and gave (Steven) Gerrard the freedom to get
forward.
"And look what happened, he (Gerrard) gets the first one
and he played absolutely magnificently second half."
Grobbelaar insisted, though, that the victory differed
from the European Cup triumph he played in in 1984.
"You cannot really compare that. The one we played we
went to Rome, played in Rome and to go in the lion's den
against the home team, it was awesome," he said.
"But this, away from home, a neutral ground, 3-0 down at
half-time and all of a sudden in the 58th minute it is
3-3, it was absolutely magnificent football in the
second half."
MAY 26
Media
reaction to Liverpool win
A review of the media coverage following Liverpool's
epic Champions League victory over AC Milan.
LIVERPOOL ECHO
'We did it'
The greatest comeback in football history.
THE GUARDIAN
'Champions of Europe'
The glory of Liverpool is reborn. They are not merely
champions of Europe once more but the indefatigable
creators of a victory that will be talked about so long
as football exists.
THE INDEPENDENT
'History men'
In the great, tumultuous history of Liverpool Football
Club this will take some explaining.
DAILY EXPRESS
'Dream Come True'
The newspaper recalls Steven Gerrard's comments made in
Wednesday's edition - "Imagine that, me with the trophy
in the air. It is an image in my mind I want to make it
reality."
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Gerrard leads glorious fightback'
It was Gerrard's guts and lust for glory, his refusal to
countenance defeat even when its dark hand fell across
Liverpool...
THE TIMES
'The Miracle of Istanbul'
Trounced by half-time, triumphant by the end, Liverpool
celebrated their fifth European Cup all the more
joyously because of the astonishing manner of victory.
'Kewell the odd man out on a night of pride and passion'
Never renowned for leaving a drop of blood, sweat, tears
on the field, Kewell had clearly no intent on changing
this successfully high-earning formula.
DAILY MAIL
'They've potted the big one... now let them defend
it'
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish on the likelihood of the
Reds missing out on the chance to defend their title:
"How can European football's rulers possibly ignore the
cry for Liverpool to be allowed to defend their trophy
next season?"
LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT Milan's pink sports daily
newspaper
'The Champions League goes to Liverpool'
Liverpool are champions of Europe. For the fifth time.
In the most extraordinary way... This cup was thrown
away by Milan when one was already thinking about the
statistics of the 4-0 victories over Steaua and
Barcelona (in previous finals)... Honour to Liverpool.
The paper quoted AC Milan owner and Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi: "Football is like politics: you think
you have won, but that is not the case. Pity, this is a
real pity. But I know full well what football is like."
CORRIERE DELLA SERA Milan, Italy' top-selling
broadsheet
'The great unfinished double' (Milan were second
in both the Italian league and the Champions League.)
This is the Milan of the great unfinished tasks: they
lost the championship only a few games from the end;
they lost the Champions League final after being ahead
by three goals at the end of the first half. Never seen
a Champions League thrown away like that.
'Dudek like Grobbelaar'
Like Grobbelaar, even more so than Grobbelaar. In the
final at the Olimpico [in Rome] on 30 May 1984, Roma
melted away from the penalty spot hypnotised by the
dances of the goalkeeper... Yesterday, inside the
Ataturk stadium, Milan collapsed in front of Jerzy
Dudek's breakdance.
LA REPUBBLICA Rome
'Milan suicide, Liverpool triumph'
Also: 'The folly after the show'
One usually has to work hard for victories. Milan,
instead, worked hard for a bitter defeat.
Gerrard raised the cup, they did not steal it. It seemed
they lost it, they won it. Honour to them.
Source: BBC Monitoring
MAY 26
How
the penalty shoot-out drama unfolded
Daily Post
Liverpool last night won the Champions League after a
dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against AC Milan.
Here we look at the vital spot-kicks:
0-0 After Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek dances
on the line, substitute Serginho slices his effort high
and wide.
0-1 Dietmar Hamann shimmies during his run-up
then confidently finds the corner of the net, beating
Dida's dive.
0-1 Andrea Pirlo also stutters during his run-up,
but the Italy international's effort is saved as Dudek
dives to his right.
0-2 Djibril Cisse keeps cool and sends Dida the
wrong way with a side-footed effort.
1-2 Jon Dahl Tomasson blasts his right-footed
effort into the corner, sending Dudek the wrong way.
1-2 John Arne Riise places his kick and Dida
dives superbly to his right to deny the Norway
international.
2-2 Brazil midfielder Kaka sends Dudek the wrong
way with his firm right-footed effort into Dudek's right
corner.
2-3 Calm side-footed penalty by Vladimir Smicer
puts Liverpool within touching distance of the trophy.
2-3 Liverpool win after Andriy Shevchenko's
effort down the middle is saved by Dudek.
MAY 26
Alonso hails Liverpool hero
By Laurence Francis - Daily Post
Ecstatic Xabi Alonso hailed match-winner Jerzy Dudek
for the saves that clinched Liverpool's fifth European
Cup.
 Aside
from his heroics in the penalty shoot-out where he kept
efforts from Andriy Shevchenko and Andrea Pirlo out,
Dudek made an astonishing double block from Shevchenko
in the dying minutes to keep the score
at 3-3.
Dudek - the hero.
The Poland international has had his critics at times
this season. But he had a feeling in the lead up to the
game that he would have a significant role to play and
he has ensured that his place in Anfield's Hall of Fame
is now assured.
And Alonso declared: "For me he was the hero. He made
great saves during the game and his save from Shevchenko
was incredible. He has been a key player and is now the
hero for Liverpool. He kept the trophy in our hands."
Alonso himself played a starring role in Liverpool's
breathless comeback, dictating the pace of the game in
the second half with Steven Gerrard.
Crucially, he also scored the third goal that capped a
remarkable comeback. He was alert enough to ram home
from six yards after Milan keeper Dida saved his initial
penalty.
Clutching his winners medal, with one hand, and rubbing
his head in disbelief with the other,
Alonso could not put into words his feelings. What he
did point out, though, was that it was Rafael Benitez's
soothing rhetoric at half time that helped lay the
foundations for the second half revival.
"To reach the Champions League final and to win is
incredible," Alonso said with a shake of the head.
"For the players, for the club, and for the fans this is
unbelievable. We are all very happy, and now we can
celebrate.
"I was really excited after the game, and it was amazing
to hold the trophy. The link between the fans and the
players was a great moment for us, and proved
inspirational.
"Rafa was really calm at half-time. He changed so many
things that needed changing. He helped us get a draw
after 90 minutes and now we have won.
"I hope we will be able to defend the trophy next
season, but we will see what happens. I am just very,
very happy."
Meanwhile Liverpool manager Benitez let slip that his
players had in fact been practising penalties before
last night's game before praising Dudek's performance.
"Well we practised them a little bit!" said Benitez.
"And we know that Jerzy is a good goalkeeper. He played
a really good game and he saved the penalties and has
made himself a hero.
"Is that his last game? All I know is that he has two
years left of his contract."
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