Champions League Final 2007. Milan or Liverpool?

[Lambert Simnel]

When it suits Chelsea and Man Utd they also rest key players before a big match. Look at the team sheets for last nights game, who will play this weekend, and then the teams that will be picked for the FA cup final.

Benitez would have been a fool to risk key players in a league match that has no meaning.

Of course, I quite agree. I'm not saying Benitez is a fool. But the point is that Benitez had the opportunity to do so before the two semi-final legs in a way that Mourinho and Ferguson didn't. If you're involved in a close league title fight, then your top players are playing on short rest more often.

The fact that Liverpool was able to rest players prior to the semi's was an advantage, but not the major reason why they are in the Final instead of Chelsea.

I am not a big follower of Seria A, but did AC rest players in the matches before the Man Utd semi final games?

Milan did indeed rest much of their first XI before each game. Frankly, the second leg was so one sided that I think Milan would have gone through anyway. However, the Chelsea-Liverpool tie was so tight that I can't help but feel that Chelsea would have gone through instead of 'Pool if they'd felt able to rest their key players to the same extent.

 

[Scratcher]

However, the Chelsea-Liverpool tie was so tight that I can't help but feel that Chelsea would have gone through instead of 'Pool if they'd felt able to rest their key players to the same extent.

I disagree. It was an advantage for Liverpool but I don't think it was a tie winning advantage. In 2005 Chelsea had the premiership in the bag and still lost to Liverpool who were in parallel trying to get a champions league position.

 

[ulsterman88]

Milan will win it, the liverpool wont be able stop kaka while gattuso will mop up everything coming through from midfield.

 

[Stapel]

I hope Liverpool. Ever since I was a kid, Liverpool was a synonym for something very special.

But frankly, I don't see them beat AC Milan. Milan is in great form. What Milan showed against Man U and Bayern was simply very good football.

 

[MCdread]

I hope Liverpool. Ever since I was a kid, Liverpool was a synonym for something very special.

But frankly, I don't see them beat AC Milan. Milan is in great form. What Milan showed against Man U and Bayern was simply very good football.

Well, yeah, but I hope they're not applying the semi final standard against Chelsea.

 

[Scratcher]

Well, yeah, but I hope they're not applying the semi final standard against Chelsea.

Liverpool played that way to beat Chelsea. In the second leg Liverpool were far more attacking than Chelsea but also knew that conceding a goal would have effectively put them out of the tie.

It was completely different to the performance against Barca where Liverpool were ahead after the first leg, had an away goal, and tried to blow Barca away from the beginning.

I think the final will be good to watch......

....and I am already getting nervous and the game is a week away!!

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

I've been nervous since we played Barca.

Frankly, whilst I agree that AC Milan are a better footballing side than us, I don't understand the criticism leveled at Liverpool. Chelsea did nothing other than punt long balls to Drogba. Our goal was scored because they expected us to do the same to Crouch. We outplayed Chelsea completely at home and it was a fair result. Against Barca they did nothing against us apart from 20 mins in the first half of the first leg and 20 mins in the last 20 of the second leg.

What else could it be that fuels this disregard towards Liverpool?

 

[MCdread]

I don't disregard Liverpool in any sense, and I'm not even sure Milan can be considered favourite for the game. I was just pointing out that in the semi finals, both Chelsea and Liverpool played horrible football. And although I don't like Benitez style in general, I acknowledge that the team has played good games and is a great team anyway.

 

[Scratcher]

This year, like two years ago, Liverpool have been widely tipped to fall each round by posters here. It is not surprising as they have played against teams who are challenging to win their domestic leagues and contain more household superstar names than Liverpool.

Personally I think that Liverpool have performed miracles to reach two finals and have had to play tactically, and not always attractive football, to achieve this.

As a Liverpool fan I have continued to back them all the way, but can not really say that posters here hold Liverpool in disregard. I would agree that the Liverpool Chelsea semi was far less entertaining, and the quality of the football was lower than the AC Man Utd games. But again, this is not Liverpool's only style of play.

 

[frostie89]

i would love to say liverpool but i think milan will win it. but we will make them fight for it nonetheless!

 

[BlizzardGR]

Yes! Milan Is the new Champion!
2-1

 

[MCdread]

Not exactly a classic final, the second half especially was a bit dry, save for the final minutes when there was this déja vu feeling in the air. Liverpool were superior in the first half, but were a bit toothless in the second while Milan won a game were it is very much debatable if they were the better team. I guess they'll point out to the fact that they vastly outplayed Liverpool 2 years ago save for some crazy 6 minutes and still lost. Anyway, Maldini lifting the cup 18 years after his first win is amazing. And there's still next season as he recently extended the contract for another year.

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

A fairly reasonable score. Liverpool deserved their goal for their first half performance, but were hardly inspirational in the second. Milan held their own, and deserved the win.

I'll be rooting for Milan, for reasons Kan has already outlined...

Until next time, dear nemesis, next time...

 

[col]

Lucky win to Milan owing much to a fluke goal.

 

[JJP]

Congrats to Milan. Better team won.

 

[Catharsis]

That's so embarrassing. Three English teams in the semi-finals and Milan win!

 

[Rhye]

That's so embarrassing. Three English teams in the semi-finals and Milan win!

that's true! Italian teams in 2003 and Spanish ones previously didn't miss the chance to win

 

[Scratcher]

Today I am

.....and I work in Italy

.....and I have to put up with smug AC fans all day

 

[Joe Harker]

For a moment i felt liverpool might just do it again, but it wasn't to be, i still prefer to lose like this though than the way milan lost two years ago!

 

[Timko]

Lucky win to Milan owing much to a fluke goal.

Agreed. Up until around the 75th minute I just didn't look like Milan would score. And only after Liverpool started pressing did their defense get exposed. Inzaghi did one good thing all night.

In fairness though, Dida didn't really have much to do, and extra time would have been a fair result. I really think Rafa should have done a better team selection, since Zenden was abysmal again. What is the point in giving him the ball when he can't put a single decent cross in.

What was with the early finish? It was supposed to be 3 mins, PLUS a little extra due to the last substitution. The ref stopped it over a minute early. Wierd.