It hurts. It hurts damn bad. The earliest exit from Europe's most prestigious annual tournament. Liverpool FC yesterday crashed out of the UEFA Champions League 2009-10.
Fans will call for Rafael Benitez to be sacked. I'd call for patience and maturity. I'd agree that our form this season has been terrible. Winning one out of ten games isn't what Liverpool Football Club is all about. Hanging our heads in disappointment and dejection isn't what the club is all about. But having had our share of failures earlier, we know that the storm will pass. Weather the worst, and you shall emerge stronger and better. And so shall be the case with us.
When Benitez came in from Valencia, the club was almost in shambles. Qualification for the CL came in with niggles and bouts of paranoia. Rafa ironed out those creases. He had set goals and he moved forth to fulfill them. It was always going to be a long-term mission, of strengthening the club and fielding one of the most brilliant teams in the Premiership and in the continent. The so-called 'Spanish waiter' did make mistakes as expensive signings flopped rapidly (Keano comes to mind immediately). But Torres proved to be hugely successful. Bringing someone of the class and calibre of El Nino pointed that Rafa was in the process of rebuilding something in which one had to start from scratch, shake it from the rock bottom and build upwards. And that is what the man has been doing for the past five years.
Agreed that this is not what the fans and the club deserve. But players and injuries are equally at fault along with the gaffer. Liverpool's threadbare squad and shoddy defence takes me back to the Arsenal of last year. Successive injuries, hernia, groin problems, hamstrings - those have proved to be our downfall. From a squad that finished second last season with an incredible point tally of 86, to be reduced to a shadow of its previous self is extremely galling and humbling. But bad times do pass. And so shall these.
As our skipper very bravely said, "Let's go out and win the Europa League." And that shall be it. Next target should be to finish top of the smaller league and ensure a good standing in the Premiership. Though not playing in the Champions League will have numerous financial repercussions. The sale of the club already under threat, the Yankees will face major issues in selling their stakes in the American market. The club won't be as cushioned as United or Chelsea without the money coming in from Platini's top-tier tournament. A moderate to shoestring budget, medium-quality players and another process of rebuilding and constant worries. Player sales, mass exodus - all these terms have been bandied about by nervous Scousers and the media alike. Rafa has quite a task to do (provided he is allowed to stay).
In this saga, I feel sorry for El Nino. The guy deserves better. He deserves playing at the top level. He works hard, he is a player extraordinaire, and he deserves a team that can get behind and challenge for cups and championships. Now it is time for the pep talk of the 2005 Champions League final, during the halftime. Ataturk Stadium. The Miracle of Istanbul. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a miracle again.
I love you Liverpool Football Club.
You'll Never Walk Alone.
Fans will call for Rafael Benitez to be sacked. I'd call for patience and maturity. I'd agree that our form this season has been terrible. Winning one out of ten games isn't what Liverpool Football Club is all about. Hanging our heads in disappointment and dejection isn't what the club is all about. But having had our share of failures earlier, we know that the storm will pass. Weather the worst, and you shall emerge stronger and better. And so shall be the case with us.
When Benitez came in from Valencia, the club was almost in shambles. Qualification for the CL came in with niggles and bouts of paranoia. Rafa ironed out those creases. He had set goals and he moved forth to fulfill them. It was always going to be a long-term mission, of strengthening the club and fielding one of the most brilliant teams in the Premiership and in the continent. The so-called 'Spanish waiter' did make mistakes as expensive signings flopped rapidly (Keano comes to mind immediately). But Torres proved to be hugely successful. Bringing someone of the class and calibre of El Nino pointed that Rafa was in the process of rebuilding something in which one had to start from scratch, shake it from the rock bottom and build upwards. And that is what the man has been doing for the past five years.
Agreed that this is not what the fans and the club deserve. But players and injuries are equally at fault along with the gaffer. Liverpool's threadbare squad and shoddy defence takes me back to the Arsenal of last year. Successive injuries, hernia, groin problems, hamstrings - those have proved to be our downfall. From a squad that finished second last season with an incredible point tally of 86, to be reduced to a shadow of its previous self is extremely galling and humbling. But bad times do pass. And so shall these.
As our skipper very bravely said, "Let's go out and win the Europa League." And that shall be it. Next target should be to finish top of the smaller league and ensure a good standing in the Premiership. Though not playing in the Champions League will have numerous financial repercussions. The sale of the club already under threat, the Yankees will face major issues in selling their stakes in the American market. The club won't be as cushioned as United or Chelsea without the money coming in from Platini's top-tier tournament. A moderate to shoestring budget, medium-quality players and another process of rebuilding and constant worries. Player sales, mass exodus - all these terms have been bandied about by nervous Scousers and the media alike. Rafa has quite a task to do (provided he is allowed to stay).
In this saga, I feel sorry for El Nino. The guy deserves better. He deserves playing at the top level. He works hard, he is a player extraordinaire, and he deserves a team that can get behind and challenge for cups and championships. Now it is time for the pep talk of the 2005 Champions League final, during the halftime. Ataturk Stadium. The Miracle of Istanbul. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a miracle again.
I love you Liverpool Football Club.
You'll Never Walk Alone.
"In this saga, I feel sorry for El Nino. The guy deserves better. He deserves playing at the top level"
ReplyDeleteHe should join Arsenal