So here we are. Champions league semi final second leg. Again. Its what we call history.
But I think thats wrong.
Its not our history its our culture. It runs in the streets, up Anfield road, round the corner into Lothair road and down Walton Breck road. It runs through the burger vans that we pass in the streets and it runs through Home Baked, the food banks and The Albert.
It runs in our blood, and our blood isnt red for no reason.
European football is the panacea. The peak. The tip of the top (for you top cat fans out there). Its where its at and its where the cool kids hang out. But for 7 long years we werent at the top table, we were sometimes so far from the table it felt like a world apart.
Big Jurgen has brought us back to the top table again, and lest anyone forget what it was like, I should remind you what it was like without it. It was utterly shit. So dont you miserable fuckers out there take it for granted. Dont you assume its our right. Enjoy every second, because now we know just how easily it can get taken away form us. We cant just expect to win, would that it were so simple eh?
We must be honest. We dont have a great chance. 3-0 down after what was one of our best performances I can remember. Mo out, Bobby out. Its not great. Oh, and if it could be worse, were facing Barcelona powered by the greatest of the great. But shit happens, any players have bad games, and theres always Anfield.
I go into the match with hope, with dreams, with ideas of outrageous deeds, with the chance to make history. But I also know that its unlikely. Im not worried. This reds team is incredible, genuinely incredible. Utterly remarkable. Strong, quick, brave, determined and utterly resolute. They never know when their beaten. So if we lose tonight, we havent lost. Weve just moved on to the next chapter, this team is here to stay, here to win, here to beat their boys. And if it doesnt happen tonight we will be there next season. Unflappable and unstoppable.
Up the champions league reds and never let us take this for granted. Its the hope that makes it all so wonderful, its the hope that makes us suffer. But its the hope that makes us radiate in the joy of the game.
Footnote: Rhian Brewster. Seldom has a kid carried himself so well or spoken so well. Hes a good footballer, maybe a really good footballer. Maybe just maybe tonight will be the start of something?
Although the last time we had the top scorer at the U17/World Cup on our books it didnt go so well. Florent Sinama Pongolle