Prelude
28th May 2011
28th May 2011
So there I was, walking up the steps of Wembley Stadium. My captain Steven Gerrard has just lifted the F.A Cup, We had just beaten Arsenal 2-1 thanks to 96th minute injury time winner from Fernando Torres. Not only had Fernando’s late winner sealed Liverpool’s 8th F.A cup win but according to the press and minority of fans, it had saved my job!
Despite finishing 3rd, 2 seasons in a running, pressure had been growing on me since we were knocked out of the Champions League at the first knock out stage, when we failed to beat Sporting Lisbon. The F.A cup had saved my job. Fernando Torres had saved my job. Every single one of those players who played today. Dreyer, Carragher, Riise, Agger, Marcellis, Rodriguez, Assulin, Gerrard, Aquiliani, Torres, Bellamy, Silvestre, Wilshere and Church, had all saved my job.
The season had been along hard one, with Man City retaining their Premier League title. And Chelsea finishing just 3 points ahead of us. The Champions League failure and the Carling Cup disaster which saw us dumped out by Arsenal’s youngsters in the 3rd round has acumilated in my job being under threat. I was aware that failure in the final today would spell the end of my career as Liverpool manager.
We got off to a great start, Torres connecting with across from Bellamy perfectly putting us 1-0 up. The pressure lifted slightly as time went on, but then we started getting complacent, I bought on Simon Church, a signing from Reading for 500k in January and Jack Wilshere formerly of Arsenal, whom I signed on a free transfer last summer. Pretty much instantly Van Persie scored an equaliser, injuring Daniel Agger in the process. I replaced Agger with Silvestre, again formerly of Arsenal and signed for 500k. The pressure was growing again, a cloud looming over me, pockets of fans starting to get on my back as the 90th minute drew nearer. The board went up to show the indicated injury time, 5 minutes. I looked to the heavens, drew a deep breathe and hoped, hoped we could find a winner before the end of 90 minutes. A mistake from Carragher who was playing right back (Johnson injured) let Arsenal in a fine save from my young keeper Matthieu Dreyer as Van Persie looked to seal the game, gave Arsenal a corner in the 94th minute. The corner came in Dreyer punched clear, the ball fell straight to Steven Gerrard, who turned and saw Fernando breaking forward. Instantly Gerrard pinged a great ball over the top of the Arsenal defence. Torres ran on to the ball, controlled it 2 touches latter he was on top of the Arsenal keeper, with a stroke of his right foot, the ball was in the back of the Arsenal net.
The Liverpool fans jumping around in delight. Me and my assistant Jamie Redknapp embraced in a hug jumping up and down, The entire Liverpool team, the 11 on the pitch, the subs on the bench, Gulasci, Kelly, Benayoun, Gago all in a bundle behind the goal in front of our fans. We composed ourselves as Arsenal kicked off; the second Van Persie touched the ball the ref blew his whistle and the F.A Cup final of 2011 was over!
And that’s where you find me now, climbing the steps a Wembley stadium, the cup slowly getting closer. With every player that lifts it, my relief getting greater. I reached the top and saw chairman Tom Hicks; he smiled at me and gave me a nod of his head. I smiled as I walked along side the Royal box, Jack Wilshere in front of me, he lifted the cup to a cheer from the Liverpool fans, then he turned and gave me the cup. My hands grasped around the first piece of silverware of my managerial career. I lifted it high and proud above my head, before carrying it back down to pitch side. A mob of reporters awaiting me, the cup was taken from me by Carragher who paraded it in front of our fans, as he did Geoff Shreeve’s put a mic in front of me.
“Your first bit of silverware as a Manager, how does it feel?”
“It feels great Geoff, I so happy for the fans and players after what has been a long difficult season!”
“A what about next season?”
“Next season Geoff, We must push on, we have to challenge Man City and Chelsea. Arsenal will be right up there too, a great team today. And we cant forget about Man United, they may have finished 7th this year but they’ll be back! Next season’s going to be tough but I think we will be ready, ready to fight for the Premier League title next year...............................
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