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Tale of Two Cities
Milan and Liverpool may have more in common than fans realise, as Steve Wilson reveals the two teams are each nation’s mirror image
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At first glance you wouldn’t think there is that much in common between Milan and Liverpool. In fact, with the fallout from their encounter in Istanbul many would consider them polar opposites. Milan producing 45 minutes of smooth European passing football to establish a 3-0 half-time lead, followed by Liverpool battling and fighting back in traditional British spirit to produce a six-minute goal flurry before defending for their lives to take the game on penalties.
But look beyond the tactics on the pitch and you see that Milan are Italy’s Liverpool and Liverpool are England’s Milan. While Liverpool currently, on paper at least, can still claim to be England’s leading domestic side, the fact is the last of their 18 championships came in 1990. Arch-rivals Manchester United, just a few miles down the road, recently collected their 16th title – nine of which have been picked up since the Anfield Reds last ruled the top flight. In the record books they may be one up, but nobody outside of the red half of Stanley Park would argue that Liverpool are Kings of England.
Over in Italy, the Rossoneri have their own North-West rivals. Several kilometres down the A4 and on to the A5 – Italy’s M62 – you will find Juventus. The default team of every casual supporter, a club whose fan base is just as strong, and arguably larger, in the deep south of the peninsula as it is in Turin. Ring any bells? While Liverpool can cling to pure facts when it comes to title wins, the Diavoli tifosi have no such luck. Their 17 Scudetti are dwarfed by Juve’s total of 27, even taking into account the two titles lost to Calciopoli.
However – Milan and Liverpool fans can come out from behind the sofa now – the real similarity lies on the European stage. While the Bianconeri and the English Red Devils may rule the roost at home, take them abroad and they just cannot handle the pace. For the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Club In The World’ to have collected just two European Cups in their recently fan-fared 50 years of European football is rather a disappointing statistic. I mean, even Nottingham Forest, languishing in the third level of English football, have two European Cups in their trophy room.
Over in the peninsula the Zebretti have played in the showpiece Final seven times yet only walked away winners twice, one of those wins tainted by the tragedy of Heysel. Milan fans can gloat at the fact that Juve have almost lost as many European Cups as they have won. Their haul of six is only outclassed by Real Madrid’s tally of nine – and it can be taken into account that five of the Spanish wins came in the fledgling days of the event when only 16 teams competed in a straight knockout.
Liverpool sit just behind the San Siro side with five wins and can equal their opponent’s total with a win on Wednesday night. In six Finals their only loss came on that dark night in 1985 against Juventus, an evening when playing football was the last thing on anybody’s mind. The pleasure taken by flaunting their five crowns in the faces of their Mancunian cousins just highlights how desperate the Old Trafford outfit are to feel the continental glory that the Merseysiders seem so adept at procuring.
Throw in the, until this season, almost condescending relationship with their under-achieving blue neighbours, as well as the almost unmatchable flag and banner shows displayed spectacularly to create an electric atmosphere on European nights, and you see that these two proud and historic clubs are in fact two outfits divided only by language.
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