I’m torn between writing this post and not, because I have come to understand that millions of Nigerians are keen followers of the English Premier League and fanatical ones for that matter. It’s a worse case scenario here in Port Harcourt. Yesterday’s UEFA Champions League encounter between two top rival English Clubs may well have been another League game and so, loyalty to one’s club would have been a great concern. In my first post that had anything to do with football, I did mention that I am really not a fan of any particular club. Well, today, I guess as I speak again about Liverpool, and moreso seem to be a sympathizer, I suspect a lot of folks would think otherwise. Anyway, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of my message.

Can Liverpool make a dramatic comeback?

It was really an interesting game we witnessed yesterday. Indeed, with 3 away goals in their kitty in faraway Anfield, it is safe to say that Chelsea is on the way to the next round. But then, I dare ask, is that really so? You see, in as much as the situation looks quite dicey and the mountain called Chelsea insurmountable, I dare say that the name of this game is “it is not over until it is over”. Interestingly, not many people seem to believe this, especially not with the way Chelsea domineered the game throughout the entire duration. Chelsea were unrecognisable from the side that lost so tamely at Liverpool only two months ago. Back then they looked like a team ready to go quietly over the hill together, ageing, uninspired and lacking motivation and direction. Yesterday, new coach Hiddink seemed to have dissected the system with a surgeon’s precision as he explained: “Liverpool have zonal defence and they have no marking. We have players who are tall, time everything well and who are brave. We talked about that and how we could get some benefits.” And get some good benefits they did.

It was a chastening night for a Liverpool side who looked to be on an unstoppable roll after taking Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa to the cleaners – but they can have no complaints. With Gerrard and Torres nullified after an explosive start, Liverpool’s undercard such as Kuyt and Albert Riera fell short of the quality required to trouble Chelsea. Even though all logic suggests that their game is up in this Champions League, I dare say we don’t need to be reminded just how Liverpool can pull this tie around. Remember Istanbul 2005, against a rampaging AC Milan, from 3 goals down with only 37 minutes left to play, Liverpool made one of the most shocking comebacks in recent Champions Leagues history. I still remember that night vividly because I was doing my Youth Service then in the North (Kaduna to be precise) and only met the game in the 2nd half when Liverpool was already down and presumably out until the miracle began through Captain Fantastic. The rest is history and a good one for that matter, which I hope can be repeated next week, at least to prove me right that there’s no such thing as IMPOSSIBLE.

Hmmm, I am sure Chelsea fans will be screaming “crucify him, crucify him!!!”. Earlier today, I encountered quite a number of them (i.e.Chelsea fans) in the bank and while we watched the playback on CNN World Sport programme, we got into a heated discourse on the possibility/impossibility of any comeback. But hold on a second, even Hiddink warns that Liverpool have proved they can do the “unthinkable” and he does not do complacency. Want do you think the final result will be? Can Liverpool achieve the “impossible” or will Chelsea cruise into the semis? I say, YES! Liverpool can come back again – what say you?

GLORIOUS

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Hey,

I write this piece with so much excitement, not because I am a Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal Fan (nah!), and obviously I am not a MANU fan either (‘cos a MANU fan wouldn’t dare use such title), but because I love football, just like millions and millions of people around the world for just one thing – it’s a beautiful and unpredictable game. And much more, every match I do watch floods my heart with great lessons. Now, this is one of such matches.

Captain Fantastic and Torres demolish MANU

This morning, my good friend, Uwem, was browsing the net and came across Coach Benitez’s claim that Manchester United was not “untouchable” – he’s a MANU fan by the way. “Of course we are untouchable, can Liverpool come to Old Trafford and beat MANU? Impossible!!! Definitely not now that we are so hot”. Well, like my usual manner is, I tried not to make any comments. I am sure around the world, this would’ve been the claim of every MANU fan and perhaps, even the viewpoint of every non-Liverpool fan. Afterall, in the last couple of months, Manchester United have made it clear that they are currently arguably the best club in the world and every other club’s BIGGEST PROBLEM.

Howbeit, MANU’s pedigree not withstanding, I believe every Liverpool player and even fan must have also had a mindset that said “we can win this game”. See, it always begins with the mindset. You could sense it from the blast of the first whistle, you could see it in their game, you could feel it in the air. Liverpool had not come to Old Trafford to manage a draw at best, but to do the “impossible” – to defeat the Red Devils in their very “domot”. An early goal by Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t even dampen the spirit. They took the game to the Champions and after 90 full minutes of classical football, the result was an “impossible” one – 4 goals to Liverpool, 1 to United, handing United a home defeat they’ve not suffered since losing 4-1 against QPR on New Year’ Day 1992.

Friend, here’s the lesson I want to share with you – No problem is insurmountable. It doesn’t matter how long it has lasted, it doesn’t matter how many people it has swallowed. If you can make up your mind and FACE IT, YOU CAN OVERCOME IT.

Secondly, like we often say in football, it is not over until it is over. Now that Liverpool has proved that MANU can indeed by defeated, I guess other teams can take a cue, up their game and the tables might just turn around. Who knows? You know, over a century ago, the whole world may have doubted that it was possible for a man to fly until the Wright brothers proved that indeed it was possible. Today, man not only flies within his space, we have gone to outer space. It’s only a matter of time.

Having a problem? It’s time to FACE IT, YOU WILL OVERCOME.

Thumbs up!!!

GLORIOUS

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