
Reality checkMan Utd, Chelsea prove they're not untouchablePosted: Friday May 4, 2007 2:53PM; Updated: Friday May 4, 2007 2:53PM
Athens 2007, the final of the European Champions League, is a rematch of Istanbul 2005, with five-time winners Liverpool pitted against six-time champs AC Milan. Some may see it as a kick in the teeth for English football that there is not an all-English final, despite producing three out of the four semifinalists. Team Limey thinks it's a kick in the backside for the top two EPL sides, who lately have been sending out the message that they're untouchable. Kaka led AC Milan to a 3-0 walkover against a Manchester United, shattering the dream of a second "treble" season of combined Champions League, EPL and FA Cup titles. Chelsea went into this week's Champions League semifinal second leg against Liverpool with a 1-0 lead, and with Jose Mourinho leading the charge in his war of words against Liverpool. This time though it seems the Special One's tactics backfired on him. In the build-up to the game, Mourinho belittled the Red's EPL record over the last three years. He claimed they've only really "played" 3-4 games so far this season, implying that they've given up on the EPL to concentrate on the Champions League. Later, he went further describing Liverpool as a "small club, and a cup team." Rafa Benitez fired a broadside back at Mourinho, terming the Anfield fans the real "special ones." After a 90 minutes of sloppy play, Liverpool led 1-0 and the match went into extra time because it was even on aggregate. Neither team scored in the two extra periods and Liverpool prevailed 4-1 on penalties after misses by Arjen Robben and Geremi. Afterward, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard revealed what had driven his team onto victory: "[Mourinho] makes us laugh, but for him to say that we are a little club was a bit disrespectful. Two European Cup finals in three years -- not bad for a little club is it?"
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