The essence of the confrontation
The positions of the finalists in their native championships are identical. Firmly bogged down in third place, both Milanese and Merseysides are no longer able to improve the situation. But success in the League will automatically give a controversial hitherto season triumphal status.
Rafal Benitez is famous for being able to pick up the only true tactical design for a single match and thoroughly bring his wisdom to the wards.
On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti in a series with Manchester demonstrated the unfoundedness of the allegations of tactical poverty by competently playing a two-round game.
Having dealt with United, the Milanese got rid of the last complexes in relation to the English teams, while the fate of Liverpool in this draw was never reduced to clubs from Italy.
One thing is certain. The motto of the first modern Olympics, which sounded at this Athens stadium: “The main thing is not victory, but participation”, will be decisively rejected by both rivals.
DUEL
Kaka and Gerrard - the pivotal figures in the rivals - will be in slightly unequal conditions. If the Brazilian, supported by a quartet of oporniks, can only deal with scoring chances at the gates of the Reina, then the Englishman will have to work on defense as before. And no matter where Stevie Gee starts the match - on the right or in the center.
The current playoffs clearly demonstrate that it is possible to fight against Milan on an equal footing only by fettering the actions of its 22nd number. This, for example, the Bavarian duet Ottl-Hargreaves succeeded almost impeccably in the first meeting of the Munich team with the Rossoneri.
The most important trump card of Benitez in neutralizing Kaka is Javier Mascherano. Three years old Argentinean was called the most promising opornik of the world. And in the semifinal clash with Chelsea, he finally demonstrated to the European public the unfounded advances. In the game with the Londoners, Javier coped alone, but in Athens, Benitez will surely add to him Xabi Alonso.
Ancelotti will have to solve the Benitez rebus on the left flank. Schematically, Zenden is in front of Riise. In fact, the Norwegian furrows the entire brow, while the Dutchman only secures him during attacks and helps in defensive actions. However, Oddo with Gattuso, who are to oppose the duo Riise - Zenden, did not solve such puzzles in this tournament.
PAST
The final two years ago is justifiably reputed to be almost the best in champions history. The feat of the Benitez guys, who were “burning” for the 0: 3 break, but who managed to enchantingly even the score and win the penalty shootout, will never yield to oblivion.
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek was well aware that Jose Reina had already been bought in his place, but such a piquant circumstance did not prevent the Pole, reflecting the penalty shoot-outs of Pirlo and Shevchenko, to become the hero of that meeting. Having won the Champions Cup for the fifth time, the Merseysiders sent the trophy to Liverpool forever.
The Milanese did a similar trick much earlier, winning the fifth Cup in the 94th. The final defeat of “Barca” (4: 0) took place just in Athens. And these memories will surely inspire the Milanese on May 23.
Subtext
The release of “Milan” in the finals provoked discussions on whether the possible victory of the “Rossoneri” in Athens is capable of devaluing the significance of the interistic scudetto.
Subjective reflections on this subject can be very diverse. In any case, Silvio Berlusconi admitted that Inter is the second team in his heart. So, it is quite appropriate to expect mutual feelings on the part of Massimo Moratti.
At the same time, the possible victory of Liverpool will reveal a new layer of confrontation between Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho. Their joint arrival in England dates back to 2004, exactly after the victory of the Spaniard with Valencia in the UEFA Cup, and the Portuguese in the Champions League with Porto. The three-year period that has passed since then pushes to preliminarily summarize the coaching deeds. It seems that in case of the triumph of the Merseysiders in Athens, two Benitez Champions Cups will look more weighty than a pair of Mourinho's champion trophies in the Premier League.