1 May 2014

One hand on the Trophy? Don't let it slip!



Have you ever played Super Mario Kart? If the answer is yes and you were a good player, you'll certainly remember the moment when you were in the final part of the last race of the game. Now imagine that in that precise moment, when you're 100 m far from the finish line, you slip on one of the notorious Super Mario Kart banana peels and you lose not only the race but also the whole trophy. 
What happened on Sunday afternoon at Anfield Road strongly resembles that kind of experience on the iconic video game for Nintendo 64. Liverpool, leader of the table, would have reached the final trophy (the first Premier League in their history) with a victory over title rivals Chelsea, but Steven Gerrard's slip around the end of the first half allowed Demba Ba to score and to secure a crucial victory for Mourinho's eleven.

It's intriguing and tragic at the same time that the slide came from Liverpool's most iconic player, its Super Mario, its captain and the symbol of an unexpected and outstanding Reds' season. Stevie G. indeed, after the significant victory over Manchester City, gathered his mates in the middle of the pitch and boost them up saying: "We don't let this slip now". Yes, "slip", he used exactly that word.
Being the Liverpool captain known as "a silent leader", who is respected in the dressing room, but who prefers not to be too ostentatious on the pitch, his speech became immediately popular. Thus, it's even more a twist of the fate that he was the one who slipped on the crucial match of the year, allowing a defensive Chelsea to score the goal that closed the game.

On Sunday, as well as following passionately the match on the tv, I was also checking the official hashtag of the game on Twitter.
The tweets were clearly divided into two topics: on the one hand, there were all the jokes and the irony statements about Stevie G., and on the other hand there was Jose Mourinho. Would you have ever thought of somebody else? I really don't think so.

There's one scene explaining how Sunday's victory over Liverpool was not only the team's one, but also the Special One's personal win: his celebration after the final whistle. And it was indeed his victory, because it was not only wisely prepared from a tactical point of view, but especially because of the Mourinho's off the pitch handling of it.

During the days preceding the match, the Portuguese manager created a buzz by saying that he was going to ask the permission of the club to place the second team on the pitch, in order to save the players' energy for the CL return leg against Atletico Madrid (which, as we saw yesyerday night, didn't go in the desired way).

If you add this to his strategy to declare Chelsea as a team not ready to win the title, you understand how he succeeded to put so much pressure on Brendan Rodgers' players, who felt obliged to secure a win.

Moreover, from a tactical point of view, Mourinho decided to park in front of Schwarzer's goal the
same bus that some days before denied Atletico Madrid a goal at Vicente Calderon. The strategy worked again, as Chelsea scored twice although Liverpool got 73% of ball possession. It's a significative stat but, as the CL semifinals between Bayern and Real proved, ball possession means nothing in modern football.

Some might say that Mourinho is just a lucky man or that he is the anti-football. You can agree with them, but, at the end of the story, football relies on results and luck helps winners. It's impossible to deny that, thanks to Mourinho and his players, we now have a thrilling end of the season in England, probably one of the most exciting ever.

With 3 laps to go, the race is still extremely open. Manchester City has its fate in his hand, as thanks to the goal difference it would be the first to cross the finish line by winning all the games. Liverpool must win the 3 games as well, and has to hope that it's slipping time for the other two teams (especially for City who'll play Everton this weekend).

But who knows that Chelsea, whose manager has always declared not to be in the title race, could throw the notorious Super Mario Kart bananas' peels and ruin the party to Reds and Citiziens? At the end, It's just a question of slipping...

33 comments:

  1. This information is very helpful for us. Champions League football is favorite for me. Thanks for your kind information.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. Bxh bd

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm glad I found this web site, I couldn't find any knowledge on this matter prior to.Also operate a site and if you are ever interested in doing some visitor writing for me if possible feel free to let me know, im always look for people to check out my web site. https://ngoac.net/highlight/man-un...n-ymeQBY147.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you again for all the knowledge you distribute,Good post. I was very interested in the article, it's quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting you site since I always come across interesting articles like this one.Great Job, I greatly appreciate that.Do Keep sharing! Regards, https://ngoac.net/highlight/man-united-vs-brighton-hove-albion-ymeQBY147.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. This particular is usually apparently essential and moreover outstanding truth along with for sure fair-minded and moreover admittedly useful My business is looking to find in advance designed for this specific useful stuffs… TS911 แจกเครดิตฟรี 100

    ReplyDelete
  6. Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! ว็บแทงบอล

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ho comprato questa copia delle scarpe e dei vestiti di Jimmy Choo da questo negozio. La qualità è ottima. replica jimmy choo italy L'ho riacquistata molte volte.replica donne jimmy choo stivali Lo consiglio ai miei amici. Lodano tutti la qualità delle scarpe e l'atteggiamento di servizio del negozio.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style. 유니벳

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. วิธีไขว้บอล ส เต็ ป 4

    ReplyDelete
  10. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. fishing god เครดิตฟรี

    ReplyDelete
  11. It is a great website.. The Design looks very good.. Keep working like that!. view live soccer today

    ReplyDelete
  12. This particular is usually apparently essential and moreover outstanding truth along with for sure fair-minded and moreover admittedly useful My business is looking to find in advance designed for this specific useful stuffs… ดูบอล

    ReplyDelete
  13. Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting? I'm pleased I discovered it though, ill be checking back soon to find out what additional posts you include. 메이저사이트

    ReplyDelete
  14. I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the new stuff you post. ข่าวบอลวันนี้

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the blog loaded with so many information. Stopping by your blog helped me to get what I was looking for. ufabet

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, What a Excellent post. I really found this to much informatics. It is what i was searching for.I would like to suggest you that please keep sharing such type of info.Thanks ข่าวกีฬาสดใหม่

    ReplyDelete
  17. This blog is so nice to me. I will keep on coming here again and again. Visit my link as well.. เล่นเกมสล็อต

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. สมัครบาคาร่าออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  19. I was reading some of your content on this website and I conceive this internet site is really informative ! Keep on putting up. xem truc tiep bong da

    ReplyDelete
  20. Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. 해외축구중계

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nice post! This is a very nice blog that I will definitively come back to more times this year! Thanks for informative post. 먹튀검증사이트

    ReplyDelete
  22. I really like your take on the issue. I now have a clear idea on what this matter is all about.. บาคาร่า

    ReplyDelete
  23. Excellent post. I was always checking this blog, and I’m impressed! Extremely useful info specially the last part, I care for such information a lot. I was exploring this particular info for a long time. Thanks to this blog my exploration has ended. CMD368

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great write-up, I am a big believer in commenting on blogs to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added something worthwhile to the world wide web!.. 한국야구중계

    ReplyDelete
  25. Very informative post! There is a lot of information here that can help any business get started with a successful social networking campaign. black satta king

    ReplyDelete
  26. Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer!.. สล็อตออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete
  27. Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place.. 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you so much for the post you do. I like your post and all you share with us is up to date and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job. sa gaming

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow, What a Excellent post. I really found this to much informatics. It is what i was searching for.I would like to suggest you that please keep sharing such type of info.Thanks 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete