Whatever happens, whoever we draw, remember that we've been here before. There were far easier teams in the last 16 hat than Real Madrid. I still think we got the toughest draw we could have gotten there, we just made them look unrecognisably bad. In 2005, we drew Juventus at this stage with Chelsea to come in the semis, a daunting prospect but a test we passed with flying colours. 2007, we got the reigning European and Spanish champions Barcelona in the last 16. Last season, Arsenal in the quarters and Chelsea in the semis wasn't exactly the ideal draw, but we disposed of the Gunners and were so close to knocking Chelsea out too.
We've been here before, and we've beaten the best. So whoever we draw, just enjoy it. There is nothing like being involved in the European Cup in late spring, when the matches start in daylight and you can sense the prospect of something special around the corner. So whether it's destination Munich, Oporto, Manchester, London or (gulp) Barcelona, just look forward to it. Our team isn't bad, you know, and neither is our manager.
I stand by this.
Fucking absolute worst draw we could have got, but they'll never take it away from us when we do it. They'll never be able to say "oh you only won cos you got a soft draw" or "oh all the teams you beat didn't show up" without looking like fucking unhinged muppets (like saying you were the best team after losing 1-4). And you know who I'm talking about when I say "they." I'm talking about everyone outside of this club who has no respect or affection for it or its players and manager. Too many of them around to count, we all know who they are.
Chelsea, still one of the most expensively-assembled teams in the world. Still got Cech, Terry, Lampard, Essien, Drogba, Ballack, Anelka, Cashley and all the rest of the media-hyped Lahndan boys. Do we want to see them win the trophy we hold dearest of all? No? Well, doesn't the saying go that if you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself? We already proved in in 2005 and 2007. Don't we want to atone for last year? Don't we want to tune the band up one more time, "Fuck off Chelsea F.C. you ain't got no history"? Well then fucking bring them. Hey lads, no Riise to score your goal for you this time.
Barcelona, top of the Spanish league. Hyped to the fucking clouds above. Star players all over the pitch, except maybe in goal and in defence. We've been here before, haven't we? When certain people laughed at the very idea of us going to the Nou Camp and not getting twatted. Only difference was, we didn't have Fernando Torres back then. We didn't have the most lethal partnership in world football right now playing upfront for us. No Skrtel either. Alonso going through a poor patch of form. No Babel or Benayoun to change things from the bench.
Yes, it's an intimidating task, having to beat both Chelsea and Barcelona. Embrace it. Embrace these nights, cherish them. Imagine the noise levels inside Anfield against Chelsea and Barca. Imagine the memories that are about to be forged. Imagine the laughter and the tears in your eyes and streaming down your face when we do it. Think about whether it would mean as much to beat Porto and Villareal. What do you remember most fondly, the 1-0 win over PSV in 2007? Or maybe the 2-1 over Juventus in 2005? Or even the loss to Barca in 2007?
Get up for it, because it's us that make the difference. The 12th man, a cliche or something tangible? Let's fucking prove it. Let
them fear
us. Let
them emerge from the tunnel to a wall of sheer intimidation that will make them shit their fucking shorts. Our manager just said that he signed the new contract because of us. Don't let him down now. We have nothing to fear. We've just beaten Real Madrid 4-0 and Man. United 4-1. Barcelona, on the other hand, lost at home to Espanol a few weeks ago. Chelsea needed a late goal to beat Wigan at home. We're not perfect ourselves, but we're no worse than them. And we have the best striker in the world today lining up for us.
Let John Terry toss and turn thinking of how in the blue hell he's going to mark Nando. Rub your hands as Rafa no doubt did when we drew Real Madrid and he thought of what Nando and Stevie would do to Ramos and Pepe, only do it with even more glee, because Barca have Puyol, Marquez and the likes, very beatable. And they don't have a defender of Cannavaro's quality, and they don't have Iker Casillas in goal, they have a guy who dragged the ball over his own line the last time we played there.
This is going to be the most magical ride we've ever been on, so if you don't want to be on it, have a look at yourself. If you're so preoccupied about United's draw, go and watch their games. This is history in the making, we're part of it once again. The last time we beat Real Madrid in this competition, we won it. The last time we beat Chelsea, we got to the final. The last time we beat Barca, we got to the final. It's in Rome, where we've won twice already. We have Nando, Stevie, Carra, Masch, Pepe, Xabi, and the best manager in the world. Have some fucking belief, please. We're going to do it. Believe.
