The saying, ‘it’s not over until it’s over’, is one to provide hope to fight against the odds right til the bitter end, no matter how unlikely success is. Football answered that saying over four days.
MONDAY
Manchester City were scratching, clawing, to try and break open the resistant defence of Leicester City. Former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was doing his upmost to hand his previous employers the upper-hand in the title race. The hosts were controlling the game, but Leicester constantly threatened on the break and but for a Vincent Kompany block, would’ve amplified the tension ten-fold.
Sergio Aguero was inches from lifting the mood, but Kasper Schmeichel kept it out. Their rivals from Merseyside were starting to believe their break was finally about to arrive, City had won their previous 13 to take charge at the top. It was comfortable possession for City with a lack of penetration, time was ebbing away, captain Vincent Kompany carried the ball forward.
Sergio Aguero spoke for everyone post-match, as he said he shouted to Vincent, “don’t shoot,” but as Kompany said himself after the game, “I’ve not come this far in my career to have young players say ‘don’t shoot’.”
30 yards out, centre half Vincent Kompany stood, without a shot on target from outside the box since December 2013, and scored an extraordinary goal. It was a goal that makes you sit back, think about it, then watch it again to make sure it really did happen. Perfect, incredible and iconic, it’s a moment that will go down in the history of the Etihad, Premier League and Manchester City. It’s a testament to Leicester that it took that spark of heroism to defeat them and if Kelechi Iheanacho was sharper, it would’ve meant nothing, but it puts City a win away from their greatest Premier League triumph.
TUESDAY
A night for unlikely heroes.
Liverpool fans were deflated. Fearing the worst at Anfield after going 3-0 down in the first leg to Barcelona, and now the hope sucked out of them with City needing to beat Brighton to clinch the title ahead of them. Their league points tally has already surpassed the Manchester United treble winners and Arsenal Invincibles, yet they may find themselves next week with nothing to show for it.
The focus was on Europe for this evening. No Salah, Firmino or Keita. No away goals, no chance, no hope, even their own fans would tell you. Lionel Messi was at his mercurial best last week to move his team one step towards the final, the consensus was between him and former scousers Coutinho and Suarez, they’d score the crucial killer blow.
However, as Arsene Wenger deemed after the first leg, “Anfield is the worst place for a second leg,” he was right. Normally, the tie wouldn’t be up for debate and Barcelona could think about the final, but if Liverpool scored early at Anfield, everyone would second guess.
Cue, Divock Origi.
An outcast to Wolfsburg last season, he was all of a sudden the spearhead in place of Firmino, he was on the money to tap home inside 10 minutes, maybe.
Liverpool’s defence has been meticulous all season, but on this night they relied on Alisson more than ever. The Catalonians were cutting them apart, Coutinho and Messi both presented with guilt edged chances, denied. They weren’t the most extravagant saves, but he parried away from danger and was a figure of commanding confidence. The second half presented the Reds with a task of scoring three to win, two for extra-time, but an away goal could end it all, the pressure was insurmountable.
Cue, Gini Wijnaldum.
A replacement for the striken Andy Robertson at half-time, Milner moved to left-back and the Dutchman took charge of midfield. It was a Steven Gerrard-esque performance as in the space of 122 seconds, Wijnaldum and Liverpool stunned the greatest player alive.
Trent Alexander-Arnold capitalised on Jordi Alba’s error and picked out Wijnaldum, who powered a shot past Marc Andre Ter-Stegen, now we’re talking. Before the visitors had a chance to collect themselves, the relentless press was on them again. Xherdan Shaqiri with a delivery worthy of Mo Salah, Wijnaldum rising, and in what felt like slow-motion directed the ball into the corner, pandemonium. Liverpool had scaled the incline, with the peak in-sight, one more moment of magic needed to climb the mountain.
Cue, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
It has been reported since, that Liverpool ball-boys were instructed to distribute balls quickly at set-pieces, as that’s where they lose focus. Even so, Alexander-Arnold looked up, with 11 minutes to go, and decided against a quick corner, and then. In a move which cannot ever be praised enough, he whipped in the corner with Barcelona standing, Origi swept the ball into the top corner. Ter Stegen was merely clapping his defenders before he realised the ball was past him. Mesmeric.
Anfield has seen some unforgettable nights, but without the talismanic Salah, majestic Firmino, vital outlet in Robertson and facing one of Europe’s most feared frontlines, they pulled it off. Barcelona were brought to their knees last year by Roma, but this year was simply a colossal feat from Liverpool. Beyond their wildest dreams, they had reached back-to-back Champions League finals.
WEDNESDAY
An unlikely hero stood tall.
How do you follow that? Spurs were facing the giant-killer marvels, Ajax in their back-yard. A depleted squad, with no investment made this season and world-class leader and protagonist, on the sidelines, it was ridiculous that they were even at this stage. VAR was their saviour in the last round, but if they were to overcome Ajax, it would need more than technology.
The brave-heart Dutch side were a class apart in the first leg, and in the first half of this it looked like their journey was taking them to Madrid. A header on five minutes from their inspiring leader Matthjis de Ligt followed by a cracker from Hakim Ziyech had them cruising. Unlike Liverpool, there was no extra-time buffer for Spurs, it was three goals or bust, if they conceded it was goodnight.
Cue Lucas Moura.
Their injured captain Harry Kane gave them a team-talk at half-time, according to Danny Rose, if that’s the case then he’s got a career in management awaiting him. Spurs were fearless, adventurous and heroic in the second half and set up a comeback that may even topple Anfield’s. Ajax had not been in the favorites position in the competition thus far, this was new to them, and in that role they shrunk into themselves, galvanising the English club.
A incredibly composed finish brought life back into his team that looked finished at half-time. His second, dancing feet and a clinical shot was outstanding. Andre Onana kept Fernando Llorente out superbly, but the ball ran loose, Moura retrieved and despite having as much room as in a phone-box to manoeuvre in, he swivelled and found the corner. Within four-second half minutes, Spurs were a goal from the unimaginable, almost like the previous night.
If anything was shown about the Premier League this week, it was the relentless effort and determination the teams have, this went all the way until 96 minutes. Ziyech fired wide and hit the base of the post, it seemed destined for Spurs but Vertonghen hit the bar with four minutes to go, time had run out. That was before the most remarkable late goal I’ve ever seen, and that tops Sergio Aguero’s. A long-ball forward, Llorente flicked on, Alli deftly fed it into Moura’s path. In one sweep of his left-foot, he put 11 Ajax players on the floor, it was delirious scenes. Jermaine Jenas driven to tears on commentary, Mauricio Pochettino not knowing where to look or what to do, a pinch yourself moment.
Just like that, Spurs had reached their first Champions League final. The Premier League proving to provide the most almighty comebacks of them all, it still sounds crazy.
THURSDAY
The familiar heroes took charge.
Arsenal and Chelsea had much easier tasks in comparison, but that didn’t mean there was no drama. Unai Emery was in make or break territory for hopes of getting to the Champions League, facing his former club and the leaky defence conceding in the opening passages of play, how’s your nerve?
Cue Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
A instinctive, flawless volley, near-post predatory finish and individual brilliance, Arsenal’s very own Avenger. Guiding Arsenal out of the hole they’d dug themselves, into the Europa League final, an individual performance of world-class standards, but would England make it a clean sweep?
Cue Eden Hazard (and Kepa).
Chelsea had been taken all the way by Eintracht Frankfurt. Luka Jovic proving ice really is in his veins for his 10th Europa League goal, not even Hazard could muster a goal to win it. David Luiz and Davide Zappacosta hooking shots off the line in extra-time, a game that seemed simple, proving a nightmare for Chelsea. It went to penalties, memories of Wembley in February flooding back, Kepa the villian on that day.
On this day, he made up for that. Martin Hinteregger and Goncalo Paciencia denied by the Spaniard, the fans were on his side now. Step forward the enigmatic Hazard. Of course he was last to take, in Ronaldo like style, he wanted to be the match-winner. It could be his farewell Stamford Bridge moment, but he delivered anyway, Chelsea had battled through the hard way.
Liverpool versus Spurs, Arsenal against Chelsea. The first time in European history that the four finalists were from the same nation. The Premier League took on Europe and prevailed, a week that will go down in history.
Now, back to what started on Monday, the Premier League title race, who is backing Brighton and Liverpool now?
Sam Tonks 