What the football world witnessed this week was nothing short of two absolutely sensational comebacks. On Tuesday night, Liverpool did the unthinkable at Anfield beating a very formidable Barcelona. A day later, Tottenham went a step further at Ajax to change the two legged tie within a half. What is amazing about these comebacks is not even the ardent fans of these two clubs expected something quite like this. To cap off an amazing UCL this year is an all England final between teams who just don't know how to give up, no matter the odds stacked against them. That this feat came without the presence of Mohammed Salah and Kane just adds another feather to their glorious runs. To reign supreme against adversity is something both these clubs have made a habit of. Let's try to recapture the madness that took place this week!
As I have written in one of my previous blogs, Klopp has made sure that last season's UCL success for Liverpool was not a one off success. He has sustained that form for Liverpool for so long that they are genuinely considered one of the best teams in the world specially at home. Turning a 3-0 drubbing against a Leo Messi masterclass to a 4-0 rout is not a mean task. That it came against high quality La Liga champions and in the absence of Salah, Firminho and Keita shows the mettle this Liverpool team possess. Going toe to toe with Manchester City in the league, they might finish as the second best in EPL this Sunday, but they still have had an incredibly successful season. A large part of that success is owed to Klopp's tactical genius. While his counterpart Valverde took out Coutinho and brought on another defender with the Leg tied at 3-0 , Klopp brought on another attacker and the move paid dividends. Week after week, match after match, Klopp has proved himself to be a great tactician and his record at Anfield will only get better. He's here to stay and might well be coined the Premier League's 'Special One'.
If the quarter finals against Manchester City were any indication then Spurs were not expected to be beaten without a fight. However, all of that resilience came int question at half time. With Ajax leading the home leg 2-0 and effectively 3-0, any sound football follower would not have dreamt of the drama that would ensue on that night in Amsterdam. A team devoid of the services of one of the best strikers of this generation in Harry Kane were not expected to counter attack in the manner they did. Lucas Moura scored a hat trick, with the last one coming with virtually the last kick of the match. If there were any doubts on Spurs's ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages of the competition, then they were all put to rest. Spurs have not signed a player in an year and the emotions that Pochettino showed on the field shows how much this club has grown from being an underdog to everyone's favorite. They may or may not win the Champions League but they've shown everyone what belief can do to a set of players willing to put a fight till the end. Spurs are the common man's hero and Pochettino a very admirable figure.
Magnificent Liverpool!
As I have written in one of my previous blogs, Klopp has made sure that last season's UCL success for Liverpool was not a one off success. He has sustained that form for Liverpool for so long that they are genuinely considered one of the best teams in the world specially at home. Turning a 3-0 drubbing against a Leo Messi masterclass to a 4-0 rout is not a mean task. That it came against high quality La Liga champions and in the absence of Salah, Firminho and Keita shows the mettle this Liverpool team possess. Going toe to toe with Manchester City in the league, they might finish as the second best in EPL this Sunday, but they still have had an incredibly successful season. A large part of that success is owed to Klopp's tactical genius. While his counterpart Valverde took out Coutinho and brought on another defender with the Leg tied at 3-0 , Klopp brought on another attacker and the move paid dividends. Week after week, match after match, Klopp has proved himself to be a great tactician and his record at Anfield will only get better. He's here to stay and might well be coined the Premier League's 'Special One'.
Counter Attacking Spurs!
If the quarter finals against Manchester City were any indication then Spurs were not expected to be beaten without a fight. However, all of that resilience came int question at half time. With Ajax leading the home leg 2-0 and effectively 3-0, any sound football follower would not have dreamt of the drama that would ensue on that night in Amsterdam. A team devoid of the services of one of the best strikers of this generation in Harry Kane were not expected to counter attack in the manner they did. Lucas Moura scored a hat trick, with the last one coming with virtually the last kick of the match. If there were any doubts on Spurs's ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages of the competition, then they were all put to rest. Spurs have not signed a player in an year and the emotions that Pochettino showed on the field shows how much this club has grown from being an underdog to everyone's favorite. They may or may not win the Champions League but they've shown everyone what belief can do to a set of players willing to put a fight till the end. Spurs are the common man's hero and Pochettino a very admirable figure.
It promises to be an aboslute thriller of a final. One every football fan is waiting for. Two pretty evenly matched teams with a great flair for counter attacks. With the availability of Kane and Salah, make no mistake, this promises to be the best final in decades of UCL history!
