[lfc-news] So, Rafael Benitez does walk on water - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 26 May 2005
So, Rafael Benitez does walk on water
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ went for a stroll in the early hours of this morning.

Rumours that he walked across the Bosphorus were exaggerated . . . of
course.

But maybe only a little. Penalty practice? Who needs it? Give a three
goal head-start to one of the most miserly defences in Europe? Don't
worry, we'll turn it around.

A squad in transition, containing some players already on their way out
of Anfield now crowned European champions? You better believe it.

Liverpool's remarkable manager turned what had threatened to be a
dispiriting shambles into the club's most celebrated success for 21
years. Perhaps even in all of its 113 years.

Liverpool have an affinity with the famous old trophy which is the
European Cup. And now they get to keep it - joining Real Madrid and AC
Milan as the only clubs in Europe to boast the achievement of five
victories.

But the manner in which the Reds reclaimed their place at the pinnacle
of European football topped everything they had achieved before.

Not since Ferenc Puskas galloped around Hampden Park has the European
Cup final witnessed such a mesmerising spectacle. The UEFA Cup triumph
over Alaves may have contained more goals, but the Spaniards are one of
the continent's lesser lights and the UEFA Cup is very much second best.

Last night Liverpool turned a three-goal deficit against arguably the
greatest club side in Europe... in the competition everybody craves.

And they did so dramatically, implausibly and quite brilliantly.

At half-time, Rafael Benitez was the man ready to shoulder the blame for
a shocking end to Liverpool's season.

Leaving Dietmar Hamann on the bench was a grave error of judgement. And
using Harry Kewell in a floating role behind Milan Baros was a gamble
which had backfired even before the Australian limped lamely off.

If Benitez believed he could exploit Milan's elderly rearguard -
combined age of 132 - with an adventurous attacking formation, it was a
bold move.

And it failed. The idea was for Liverpool to come out and blitz Milan's
ageing rearguard with a sustained early onslaught in the same way that
Juventus and Chelsea had been ambushed in the last two rounds.

Instead, it was the oldest Milanese of the lot, 36-year-old Paolo
Maldini, who caught Liverpool cold in 49 seconds. Then Kaka and Paulo
gouged huge holes through Liverpool's vulnerable midfield and, by
half-time, Liverpool were 3-0 down and seemingly out.

Two of the goals came from Hernan Crespo. Revenge, maybe, for Chelsea's
semi-final exit?

But then came the most remarkable recovery in Champions League history.

Dietmar Hamman was introduced for the injured Steve Finnan - and Gerrard
was finally given the licence to influence matters further up the pitch.

From a patchy first half performance, he began to dominate the match.

In a tumultuous 15-minute spell, Liverpool didn't just save face, they
restored parity quite sensationally.

Steven Gerrard glanced a header into the right goal - utterly
exonerating the painful memory of his Carling Cup final misfortune.

Vladimir Smicer marked his final match in a red jersey with a strike
which will ensure he is welcomed warmly back on Merseyside any time he
likes.

Then Gerrard thrust purposefully into the heart of the Milan penalty
area again, had his heels clipped by Gattuso, and Xabi Alonso stepped up
to drill into the roof of the net after his first strike had been saved.

Such was the gargantuan effort Liverpool had produced in clawing their
way back into the game, they were running on fumes as the game reached
its climax.

But they held on - not least when Jerzy Dudek made a stunning double
save from Tomasson and Shevchenko.

Then on to the lottery of penalties. Except maybe the shoot-out wasn't
such a lottery. With maybe 40,000 Scouse voices screaming themselves
hoarse every time a Milan player stepped up, the dice were loaded
heavily in Liverpool's favour.

Raising the European Cup wasn't Liverpool's only triumph of the night.
Their phenomenal travelling support outnumbered and over-whelmed Milan's
traditionally noisy fans by at least four to one.

Seasoned European travellers, they were flown, ferried, bused and - in
one ingenious case - taxied from the banks of the Mersey to the Bosphorus.

Before they even entered the airy, space-age Ataturk Stadium, they
enjoyed a pre-match party in the wide open spaces surrounding the stadium.

Pete Wylie sang of a Heart as big as Liverpool - apt given the comeback
Liverpool produced after half-time.

It was a shame Harry Kewell's heart proved the size of Little Crosby.

His selection for the starting lineup raised eyebrows - just as when he
started the Carling Cup final.

But just like that unfortunate afternoon in Cardiff, he left the pitch
early with an injury not immediately apparent.

The Australian may just be the most unlucky of footballers. But the boos
which rang out from the Liverpool supporters suggested they expected a
ballsier reaction than 21 lacklustre minutes.

But that was in the first half when the Reds' world was pear-shaped and
some fans were already contemplating early darts back to the airport.

The second half will remain embedded in the mind of every Liverpool fan
fortunate enough to have witnessed it.

Those inside the stadium were privileged. Those who watched back at home
in England were just as thrilled, captivated and delighted.

Rafa Benitez and Steven Gerrard received an impromptu round of applause
when they walked into the post-match press conference at about half-past
midnight local time.

But spare a thought for PSV Eindhoven boss Guus Hiddink this morning.

"Liverpool will make this the most boring Champions League final for
years," he moaned a week ago in a severe case of unripe chardonnay.

Don't let him pick your lottery numbers this weekend.

Rafa Benitez, however? Get him to do your lottery, pick your bingo
numbers and pat sick relatives on the head.

The man has the Midas touch - and last night he proved it to an audience
of disbelieving Europeans.

The audience on Mersyside, however, have always believed.

Altogether now . . . Ra-fa Benitez . . . . Ra-fa Benitez

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