‘Istanbul still hurts’

When I think about tomorrow’s Champions League final showdown, my football intelligence tells me that Liverpool should win it comfortably. They have an astute manager in Benitez, a master tactician who knows how to dissect Europe’s best teams. Just ask Barcelona. Liverpool have a larger squad, and younger, fitter players. In case, the game goes to extra-time, Liverpool can be expected to last an ageing Milan team. If it comes to penalties, they have an outstanding shot-stopper in Pepe Reina. All of the above combined with the typical English resilience they embody should make them favourites for tomorrow’s final.

Yet why does something tell me that Milan’s name is written on the trophy? They had a difficult season in the Serie A, just escaping demotion and starting with an eight points deficit. At the start of the season, no one gave them any chance to win anything. And yet, here they are, one game away from winning club football’s biggest prize.

Carlo Ancelotti said in the build-up, “Istanbul still hurts.” Gennaro Gattuso has vowed revenge and proclaimed that a repeat of the 2005 final would not happen. The stage is set for Milan to exorcise the ghosts of Istanbul forever.

And something tells me, they might just end up doing it.