Roman SHISHKIN: “Because of Milan, I quarreled with a friend”
I sympathized with Liverpool and even argued with a friend with whom I watched the match in a cafe that the British would win. So I lost with Liverpool. But it seems to me that the game was equal, and the chances of the rivals were 50 to 50, it was just that Milan had more experienced players, and this probably affected. Yes, and the first goal of Inzaghi, some strange, influenced the course of the game. “Spartak” also often flies ridiculous goals, so I know how difficult it is to recover after that.
In general, I watched football yesterday with all eyes. A cool game performed by professionals, complete dedication, competent actions on a safety net - in general, nothing like Russian football. I tried to try on myself, if I could play at that level myself, and was convinced that I still had to work and work for this. I will gladly review this match again. Even twice.
Dmitry KHOKHLOV: "Kaka and Seedorf did not notice"
Honestly, I didn’t really like the final. In my opinion, it turned out to be boring. Finals in general are rarely spectacular - too much is at stake, so the opponents play carefully. I remember only one exception to this rule - the same match when it was 3-0, then 3: 3 ... It was interesting there. But I didn’t expect anything like that from yesterday’s match. He assumed that Milan would win with a minimum score. And so it happened.
Three points - two goals. This is a grade indicator.
The Italians won due to the excellent implementation of scoring chances. Three points - two goals. This is an indicator of class. You can say that “Milan” was lucky, but you can not say so. Yes, the first goal turned out to be curious, but the strongest are lucky. At the same time, I liked the fact that Liverpool continued to fight until the final whistle, trying to turn the tide. And I didn’t like the fact that the main stars of Milan, Kaka and Seedorf, who lead the entire team game, were practically not visible. Therefore, there were very few memorable episodes in the game.
Diniyar BILYALETDINOV: “Inzaghi - he is so alone”
A tense match turned out. Very careful. But for the finale - a little boring. In this game I was rooting for Liverpool, but I can’t say that I’m disappointed with the result. Still, the British showed good football, in terms of technical and tactical indicators, I think they did not yield to anything, and for success they lacked only, let's say, toothiness in the attack. But the “Milan” with this was all right. Because the Italians have a man who can run the whole match for nothing, and then with one or two touches decide the outcome of the game. And so Filippo Inzaghi is a great football player. Very cunning, very useful player. Forward, which in Europe - units. Or maybe he’s all that alone.
The highest professionalism of the players, manifested in everything, was also striking. For example, Stephen Gerrard, who didn’t play in the first half, apparently analyzed his mistakes during the half-time and moved in the second half, which not only revived the game of Liverpool, but also began to threaten the goal. And, say, after the match, the players of both teams behaved very correctly in relation to each other, despite the fact that literally a few minutes ago passions were boiling on the field. For example, Gattuso, who was hit in the face during the game, thanked the British for the excellent game and spoke friendly with them.
During the match, I often found myself thinking that I was constantly asking the price, how I would play in a particular episode. God forbid, if ever it will happen to speak at such a level. At the same time, I don’t think that there is a big gap between Russian and European football. Our CSKA fought on equal footing with the same Liverpool a couple of years ago, and if it weren’t for the hand of Djibril Cisse, he could have won. So we also know how to do something.
Alexei YEREMENKO: “I would not call Milan the best club in Europe”
The match was not bad. High pace, speed, struggle. I agree that it’s a little boring, but this is because the rivals were afraid of each other and acted carefully. We played very compactly, there was practically no free space on the field, so the individual qualities of the players decided the outcome. First of all, Kaka. As soon as the defenders of Liverpool for a short time left him without close guardianship, he immediately issued a wonderful pass to Inzaghi - and the score was 2-0. Well, in the episode with the first goal, “Milan”, of course, was lucky. You yourself have seen everything. Does Inzaghi claim they practiced rebounds in training? Well then everything is clear.
AC Milan does not look unconditionally the strongest club in Europe
Of course, if you put this match on a par with the other finals of the Champions League, then you will not name it outstanding. Rather, even an ordinary game. There is no comparison with how these same opponents fought two years ago or, say, the battle of eight years ago, Manchester United - Bayern. And “Milan” does not look unconditionally the strongest club in Europe. Although he certainly deserved success, since he managed to go through all the stages of the League and win the final. The Italians midfield line is perhaps the best to date, the defense is also strong, but the attack is only trying to match the solid status of this team. Yes, Inzaghi managed to realize two of the two points, and it is worth a lot, nevertheless, in the second, and especially in his first goal, the merit of the midfielders is much more significant.