Champions League Final: AC Milan vs Liverpool (ALL-match comments)

Originally Posted by Mehdi

It's not about 4 years ago it's about now, it's about next season. Chelsea and Barca were nothing 4 seasons ago, now they are champions of their leagues, have young squads loaded with talent and chairman who are willing to spend big. If you sit still you get left behind. Berlusconi needs to spend and needs to spend big.

barca were nothing 4 years ago? obviously you haven't been watching any spanish soccer over the last 10 years

berlusconi doesn't have to spend big to get results. we got cafu for free for crying out loud. we also got vogel for free. we aren't a team like inter and real madrid that likes to spend money to get NAME players. milan have always been fiscally responsible and that is why you don't see Milan go in the red like SO MANY CLUBS around the world - like Lazio and even Real Madrid. Milan used to go in the red a lot of back in the early 1990's because of their spending habits and if it weren't for the deep pockets of Silvio, Milan would be like Parma right now. He used to cover Milan debts from his own pocket.

Originally Posted by ACM

Maybe I'm being arrogant, but Milan have thrown away the Champions league Crown two seasons in a row.

Also, to the hardcore Milanista, this group of players will not get the respect of our previous power teams until we win these type of finals within the 90 minutes, and not have to resort to penalties.

Totally agree!

Thoug I am proud how the team played at this CL final, there is obvious problems that need to be addressed. So far Ancelotti has failed to solve how to drive away the huangting ghost of Depor and how to cure the complacency among players.

There is lakc of this never-say-die fighting spirit in our current players.

Again, for allowing the players to celebrate at half time....half time, and so loudly the Liverpool players were able to hear it....I blame Carlo Ancelotti....and to some extent, Maldini.

They should have not only known better, but prevented any such jubilation.

The knowledge that they were so foolish, so childish, so ridiculous, really really disapppoints me....

While I wont seek to have Carlo removed, he needs a good talking to, and indeed, if next season is in ANY way similar to this year´s fiasco, then he can go packing to Roma, to change their team into half time celebrants.

Originally Posted by aim

There is lakc of this never-say-die fighting spirit in our current players.

I think they don't lack the never-say-die spirit, as you could see in this final, they did fight till the very last minute.
The problem is they can't hold a lead, what they lack is never-say-win-till-the-end.

Originally Posted by Nadir

barca were nothing 4 years ago? obviously you haven't been watching any spanish soccer over the last 10 years

I watch it every week. 4 seasons ago they went out to Real Madrid in the Champions League and finished 4th in the league. First is first and second is nothing.

berlusconi doesn't have to spend big to get results. we got cafu for free for crying out loud. we also got vogel for free. we aren't a team like inter and real madrid that likes to spend money to get NAME players. milan have always been fiscally responsible and that is why you don't see Milan go in the red like SO MANY CLUBS around the world - like Lazio and even Real Madrid. Milan used to go in the red a lot of back in the early 1990's because of their spending habits and if it weren't for the deep pockets of Silvio, Milan would be like Parma right now. He used to cover Milan debts from his own pocket.

It's not about getting name players and we're already massively in debt. Debts are irrelevant with a billionaire owner. The combined effect of a 20 team Serie A, Champions League and international football is too much for all clubs, especially those with ageing teams. You cannot rely on free transfers alone, this team is old and needs rebuilding. Real have won 3 European Cups in the last decade and are no longer in debt. We blew our chance of history on Wednesday not only did we blow our chance but our legacy was tarnished. What Sacchi and Capello built has been ruined by what has happened in Europe over the past two years and maybe it won't take as long to get back to where we belong but it will be impossible without rebuilding.

Originally Posted by ann

Pirlo scored against Buffon in Italian Supercup 2003, two penalties, one in extra time and one in shootout. He also scored an important penalty against Empoli just after a disaster (0-4depor) last season. It's not in a shootout but equally difficult/important IMO.

He is actually much tougher than he appears to be, if you see how he fights when we are down. The problem is rather physical IMO. The two missed penalties(Boca, Liverpool) are in one case, when he was deadly tired, just like Baresi in 1994.

In fact, I kinda knew he would miss penalty before the shootout. He was almost falling in extra time, it's obvious that his knee was painful. I thought he would come off soon but he didn't, instead he kept running after trying to stretch himself. He could still dribble but his pass/shot/freekick was often below par. It seemed to be very difficult for him to control his foot to curve the ball.

Somehow the two penalties he missed were way more important than the ones he scored. I don't want to be harsh on him. But our captain has always dreamed of lifting the Toyota cup as a captain. That's what keeps him playing, part of reason it could be. And not to mention this one. His failure basically buried our hope.

I don't think tireness is crucial in penalties. Serginho were fresh, but he failed too. It is the mentality. The clown ruined that for us, and I doubt Ancelotti and co. foresaw that. If it was true that we didn't even practice on shootouts before the game, then I should blame Ancelotti. Also, indeed, he shouldn't assign Pirlo to take one; I see no problem in Serginho. He was plain unlucky.

Pirlo may be tougher than he appears to. I agree. that proves my point however. He needs to look tough to give our teammates a sense of security. His position is so important that I want him to be able to control and calm folks down just by his presence. Like Desailly, a stone wall there looking insurmountable.

don't get me wrong, I am not trying to bash him. He is such a genius and I love him so much. I want to see him succeed with us with five more european champions (I am not talking about UEFA cup of TOTO cup. ) I just think we can better use him. this is a thought. It could be premature and impractical, but after our loss, I just thought it over.

--------------------gilardino--------
-----------sheva-------------------
------------------kaka-------------
janku----------pirlo-----------cafu--
--------------gattuso---------------
----maldini--------------stam--------
--------------nesta-----------------
--------------dida------------------

The main change will be the utilization of two wings (not Milan style ); and 3-man defense (not Milan style again ); and the freeing of Pirlo from too much defense responsibility but not pushed too much forward so that we can maximize his vision in playmaking and protected by Gattuso.

Forza Milan

Originally Posted by Sheva7_Evo

if we were really celebrating at half time...we deserve to lose.

I seriously doubt that we were celebrating. After 3-0, it is understandable that everyone was in good mood. Maybe talking was loud, so? Maybe we were happy, so? I saw Maldini so happy after 52 seconds, was that an insult? I saw Crespo happy after his two goals, were those celebration (yes, that was celebration) insult?

call me arrogant, but I have a feeling that it is just that damn French defender just trying to make his story juicier, or trying to make their adventure more heroic, and add insults to our injury.

Originally Posted by ACM

Maybe I'm being arrogant, but Milan have thrown away the Champions league Crown two seasons in a row.

Either you are not, or I am too. And it hurts, hurts like hell. Just to think we could have kept a second cup already!!! :sad: Now the damn Liverpool got that one.

Originally Posted by ACM

Also, to the hardcore Milanista, this group of players will not get the respect of our previous power teams until we win these type of finals within the 90 minutes, and not have to resort to penalties.

I don't totally agree on that one. A win is a win, and a loss is a loss. But you have one point there: penalties could be the most stupid way (although maybe the only viable option) to break a tie: NEITHER WINNER NOR LOSER IS SATISFIED. Winner will be blamed undeserving; and losers are even more hurt, miserable and grumpy.

Originally Posted by Xudong

I don't totally agree on that one. A win is a win, and a loss is a loss. But you have one point there: penalties could be the most stupid way (although maybe the only viable option) to break a tie: NEITHER WINNER NOR LOSER IS SATISFIED. Winner will be blamed undeserving; and losers are even more hurt, miserable and grumpy.

sacchi's milan didn't win the Euro cups through penalties.

Originally Posted by Nadir

sacchi's milan didn't win the Euro cups through penalties.

I know that. And what's your point?

Sacchi's 1989 Toyota team almost went to penalties though.
Damn it, if only Shevchenko put that damn ball into the damn net past that damn monkeyish clown named dudek at 119'!!

What could be the most epic and heroic performance for us is now the most tragic show.

let's get over it everyone and get back to our lives instead of mulling over this forever. we lost and we deserved to lose.

Originally Posted by ann

I think they don't lack the never-say-die spirit, as you could see in this final, they did fight till the very last minute.
The problem is they can't hold a lead, what they lack is never-say-win-till-the-end.

Talking about never-say-die FIGHTING spirit, I mean that the players should have this mentality, which reads like "we got to punch back" when get knocked down.

Have you see fire in their eyes after receiving 3 goals, though they kept on pushing? No. Too much fear left there, probably.

Originally Posted by Nadir

let's get over it everyone and get back to our lives instead of mulling over this forever. we lost and we deserved to lose.

fully agree

Originally Posted by Nadir

let's get over it everyone and get back to our lives instead of mulling over this forever. we lost and we deserved to lose.

No we deserved to win but there's nothing we can do about it now.

Edited:
FORZA MILAN