Translated material
Total Recall
Liverpool will face Chelsea again
A more than impressive victory with a score of 3:0 in Eindhoven was quite enough for Rafael Benitez, who decided to send a semi-reserve squad for the return match with PSV. In Munich, Bayern were powerless against Milan's defensive redoubts.In Liverpool, the spiritual leaders of the Merseysiders Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher remained on the bench, but Finn Sami Hyypä, who had long since parted ways with it, received a rare opportunity to put on the captain’s armband. Boudewijn Zenden, who is spending his last weeks at the Merseyside club, also had a chance to shine. In turn, Ronald Koeman, despite all his loud statements that the outcome of the confrontation is already clear even to grandmothers who do not understand football, fielded the strongest squad. He sent onto the field even the team leader, Peruvian Jefferson Farfan, who had not had time to properly recover from an injury, and who had also recently contracted chickenpox in his homeland.
It was he who could have brought back the intrigue to the Anglo-Dutch confrontation in the first minutes of the match, when, after Philip's cross, Cocu launched a treacherous header, but Pepe Reina, with a brilliant leap, pulled the ball out from under the crossbar. In the remaining time, neither the Latin American nor his partners really threatened the home goal, and the Liverpudlians, not wanting to waste too much effort, amused their faithful audience with combinations brought to the point of automaticity, demonstrations of technique and shots on goal.
Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch looked especially great. The former spent the entire 90 minutes beating up opponents on his right side, reminiscent of the times when he was predicted to have a stellar future. The second continued to amaze Anfield and the entire football world, gathered around the TV sets, with its amazing plasticity. The two-meter forward only miraculously did not become the author of another masterpiece when, after Pennant's cross, he managed to fold himself out of an awkward position and strike while falling over himself. Unfortunately for everyone who wanted to see the beautiful goal, the visiting Brazilian goalkeeper Gomez pulled the ball out from the very corner. The only goal was scored by the same Crouch, who sent the ball into the goal after a well-calibrated pass from Robbie Fowler - 1:0.
Benitez's post-match commentary was more about the upcoming confrontation with Chelsea than about the past match. A repeat of the 2005 semi-final, when the finalist was determined thanks to Luis Garcia's phantom goal, is already on everyone's lips. Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho did not deny himself the pleasure of adding further fuel to the fire, once again expressing doubt about the fairness of that outcome and deciding to start another skirmish with his rival. “Unlike Liverpool, we continue to play in three tournaments,” said the Portuguese. - We need to fight for the FA Cup, both in the Premier League and in the Champions League. In addition, we have disqualified players. So I think Liverpool are the favorites."
The Spaniard's reaction was not long in coming. “Mourinho has no problems with the coaches whose teams he beats,” Benitez fired. - He butts heads with everyone else and tries to piss people off with the methods he uses. Chelsea have a good team, they have spent a lot over the last five years. Well, we have our fans on our side and the fact that we are playing the return match at home.”
The stubborn match that everyone expected from the game in Munich did not work out. Milan, which was superior to Bayern in all respects at home, but missed out on victory in the last minutes, surpassed the Germans in the return match. Carlo Ancelotti's team acted as if they were not facing the German champion, but an outsider in Serie A. Total control over the ball, an advantage over the opponent in almost all episodes, constant threats to Kahn's goal - all this predetermined the success of the "red-blacks". The outcome of the confrontation was decided already in the first half. In the 28th minute, the evergreen Clarence Seedorf made an excellent long-range shot, and four minutes later, after a stunning backheel pass from the same Dutchman, Filippo Inzaghi hit Kahn's goal number nine - 0:2. The remaining time turned into an empty formality. Milan secured a place in the semi-finals and a two-round duel with the English Manchester United.
Mancunians, however, are now puzzled by a slightly different problem. Before Ferguson’s squad had time to defeat Roma, the club’s fax received an offer that is usually not refused. Real Madrid expressed its readiness to pay... $107 million for Manchester United and Portugal national team midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo. The British took time to think, and meanwhile, information has already appeared in some British media that Ferguson is interested in the services of Spartak Moscow midfielder Vladimir Bystrov, who, according to his idea, will apparently be able to adequately replace the ball wizard from Portugal.
Champions League. 1/4 finals. Return matches. Liverpool - PSV - 1:0 (first game - 3:0) - Crouch 67 ; “Bayern” – “Milan” – 0:2 (2:2) – Seedorf 28, Inzaghi 32 .