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Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers baffles Real Madrid with his team, not tactics Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers baffles Real Madrid with his team, not tactics
(about 1 hour later)
In the middle of the afternoon a group of Liverpool fans gathered in Madrid’s grand Plaza Mayor, where a game of football broke out. Soon the police turned up, impromptu defenders for this kickabout on the cobbles. The fans seemed to be enjoying it until one of them, quicker to the ball than his marker, was dragged off and a policeman with dark glasses and a beret pulled out a knife and burst their ball. A few hours later, Brendan Rodgers did much the same. In the middle of the afternoon a group of Liverpool fans gathered in Madrid’s grand Plaza Mayor, where a game of football broke out. Soon the police turned up, impromptu defenders for this kickabout on the cobbles. The fans seemed to be enjoying it until a policeman with dark glasses and a beret pulled out a knife and burst their ball. A few hours later, Brendan Rodgers did much the same, or so it seemed. In fact, the response was rather more positive.
Curiously, the story broke in the Spanish media first. On Monday night there was a hint when Rodgers intimated that he might rest Gerrard and the following afternoon the rumour spread. When the team sheet appeared an hour before kick off, it was confirmed. Curiously, the story broke in the Spanish media. On Monday morning, staff at Madrid’s Valdebebas HQ asked if Liverpool would really field a weakened team. “Nah,” came the response, but the response was wrong. By Monday night there was a hint when Rodgers suggested that he would rest Gerrard, and the following afternoon the rumour spread. The team sheet confirmed it.
The stadium PA announced this as Europe’s top competition and this is arguably its grandest arena, but Rodgers had chosen what looked more like a Carling Cup team, and against the champions. Liverpool supporters packed the upper north stand and thousands spread around the Santiago Bernabéu. A banner was unfurled at the other end ran: “Welcome Liverpool supporters. Great clubs have great fans.” They might be entitled to expect great teams too. This is Europe’s top competition and the Bernabéu arguably its grandest arena, but Rodgers had chosen what looked more like a Capital One Cup team. Liverpool supporters packed the upper north stand and thousands spread around the Santiago Bernabéu. A banner unfurled at the other end ran: “Welcome Liverpool supporters. Great clubs have great fans.” They might be entitled to expect great teams too.
Supporters were still chanting Rodgers’ name early on. There was no rebellion. But some were deflated and a bit baffled at a line-up they felt did not reciprocate their effort. Gary Lineker described it as “unbefitting a club of Liverpool’s stature”. Moralising would be too much. A manager must be permitted to pick any side he considers opportune, while dismissing professional players is both risky and unfair. And supporters still chanted Rodgers’ name early on; there was no rebellion and by the end there was much respect.
The Spanish also struggled to understand. Some commentators talked about throwing the game – like too many little teams in La Liga, Liverpool arrived defeated. When Gerrard was finally introduced with 20 minutes to go, there was applause not just from Liverpool fans, but also from Madrid’s. They had wanted to see him too. But some were initially deflated, a bit baffled by a line up they felt did not reciprocate the effort they had taken to be there. The Spanish also struggled to understand. When Gerrard was introduced with 20 minutes left, there was applause from Liverpool fans … and from Madrid’s. They had wanted to see him too; they felt the occasion deserved him and he it.
Kolo Touré, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, and Fabio Borini were all included; none have started more than two league games this season. Dejan Lovren, Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli, Raheem Stirling, Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho had played every Champions League match, but none started. The players sitting on the bench had made more appearances in this competition than those on the pitch. Kolo Touré, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, and Fabio Borini were all included, though none have started more than two league games this season. Dejan Lovren, Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli, Raheem Stirling, Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho had played every previous Champions League match this season, but none started. The substitutes had made more Champions League appearances than the starters.
If there was little optimism before, there was less now. Perhaps that was the point. As the great philosopher Homer Simpson said: “Can’t win, don’t try.” Rodgers did imply that defeat was no more inevitable with this team than with the one that had lost at Anfield; here, most would concede that he had a point when he said: “Our form this season has been nowhere near the level we have set over 18 months so it’s probably hard to pick what would be our best team at the moment.” José Mourinho couldn’t resist a sly dig: “If I don’t think I can win, maybe I don’t go,” he said. If there was little optimism before, there was less now. Perhaps that was part of the point. As Homer Simpson said: “Can’t win, don’t try.” Rodgers implied that defeat was no more inevitable with this team than the one that had lost 3-0 at Anfield. He had a point when he said: “Our form this season has been nowhere near the level we set over 18 months so it’s probably hard to pick what would be out best team at the moment.”
It could be argued that the priorities lay elsewhere. Liverpool host Chelsea at the weekend and, Rodgers may have judged, qualification from this group will probably rest on the remaining two games, rather than this one. Besides, before the game Rodgers insisted that he had not thrown in the towel nor fielded a weak team. Priorities also lay elsewhere. Liverpool host Chelsea at the weekend and Rodgers may have judged that qualification from this group will anyway rest on the remaining two games, not this one. Two wins should still see them through. Besides, beforehand Rodgers insisted that he had not thrown in the towel. “I think we’ve got a strong team out. We’re certainly not forfeiting the game,” he said. “We’ve got nine full internationals and two Under-21 internationals. The last game we won … a lot of these players played.”
“I think we’ve got a strong team out. We’re certainly not forfeiting the game in any way,” he said. “We’ve got nine full internationals out there and two Under-21 internationals. The last game we won was against Swansea City and a lot of these players played.” Rodgers may have felt the need to rest players, with Gerrard among those who have looked tired. And his words and his line-up seemed to offer both warning and opportunity, a way of motivating players and reimposing authority. The attitude of his team suggested that he had succeeded. Ultimately, the efficacy of his decision will be judged on results: not just here, but at the weekend and in Liverpool’s final group games. Resting players does not necessarily guarantee a reward and there could yet be unexpected fall-out, but the message was positive post-match.
Rodgers may have felt the need to rest players, with Gerrard among those who have looked tired. And his words and his line-up perhaps contained a warning too. Like the policeman with a knife, his authority was reimposed. Lucas Leiva made a case for his inclusion; Simon Mignolet made saves; Kolo Touré and Alberto Moreno both went on impressive runs and there were moments when it looked like Liverpool might break, even if rarely. At the other end, they resisted for three minutes longer than they had at Anfield: 26 had gone when Karim Benzema scored.
The efficacy of his decision would be judged on results: not just here, but at the weekend and in the final Champions League games. Resting players does not necessarily guarantee a reward later and there could yet be unexpected fall-out. How will those players left out of the side react? Over-emotional it may be, but Gerrard might wonder how many more opportunities he’ll get to come here. In their applause, Madrid’s fans seemed to recognise that too. Until then they had handled an exceptional side reasonably well, but “resist” was the word. By half time Liverpool trailed and had not taken a shot on goal, while Madrid had taken 13. Their first shot came, from Moreno after 55 minutes and 42 seconds, and was followed by another from Adam Lallana. Neither truly threatened. By the final whistle Madrid had taken 27 shots, Liverpool 4. They had competed but that did not mean being close to victory.
The immediate test was on the pitch. Lucas Leiva made a case for his inclusion; Kolo Touré and Alberto Moreno both went on runs up the wing and there were moments when it looked like Liverpool might break, but they were rare moments. Breaking is easier when there is a player suited to it and there was not. With Gareth Bale on as a substitute and hitting the bar it was still only 1-0 at the end, closer than at Anfield when Liverpool fielded a “stronger” side – and they had prevented Cristiano Ronaldo from achieving the apparently inevitable: he will have to wait to become the Champions League’s all-time top scorer. Afterwards there was pride and satisfaction, a renewed sense of worth. Some vindication, even. Liverpool left with no points, when one might have strengthened their position in the group, but the exercise had not been entirely pointless.
Liverpool resisted for three minutes longer than they had at Anfield; 26 had passed when Karim Benzema scored. Until then, Liverpool hand handled an exceptional side reasonably well, but “resist” was the word. And by half time Liverpool trailed. Only by one, but they trailed. They had not taken a shot on goal, while Madrid had attempted 13. Perhaps that was the aim: damage limitation. But if the damage was limited, it was done. It had been done a fortnight ago.
Eventually, the shot came from Moreno on 55 minutes 42 seconds. It was followed by another from Lallana. In truth, though, there was little real sense of the visitors competing to win this. With Gareth Bale on as a sub and hitting the bar it was still only 1-0, a lesser loss than the one a fortnight ago with a stronger side, and Liverpool had prevented Cristiano Ronaldo from the apparently inevitable: he will have to wait to become the Champions League’s all-time top scorer.
Perhaps that was the aim: damage limitation. But if the damage was limited, it was done.