26 Apr 2012

Souness: Chelsea triumph exceeds Liverpool's 2005 Milan comeback. Agree?

Liverpool's stunning victory over AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final is widely regarded to be one of the greatest European Cup games of the modern era, if not of all time. Most Reds fans would agree with that, I'm sure...but not Graeme Souness. Liverpool's former captain has suggested that Chelsea's semi-final draw with Barcelona exceeds the heights of 2005.

Summarising the Chelsea game on Sky Sports, Souness - who lifted the European Cup as Liverpool captain in 1984 - was asked if the Chelsea victory was the greatest CL game of all time. In response, he gushed:

"I think this is the greatest night in Chelsea's history. It's remarkable. They showed tremendous resilience.

"You can only get a result out there if you've got total togetherness. It's the most remarkable game I've ever seen."


If the Chelsea-Barcelona game is the most 'remarkable' he's ever seen, then that seems to suggest Souness puts it above Liverpool's win in Istanbul.

All bias aside, is Souey right? Does Chelsea's triumph in the Nou Camp exceed Liverpool's comeback against AC Milan?

As a neutral, I really enjoyed the Chelsea-Barca game but in terms of sheer drama, incident and heart-stopping excitement, Liverpool toppling Milan is still streets ahead (IMO).




Jaimie Kanwar


62 comments:

  1. All he said was that it was the greatest night in "Chelsea's" history, never anything or any comparison with Liverpool.

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  2. It might well be, especially after Terry, being an idiot, got himself sent off and left his team having to work extra hard to get through.

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  3. "Its the most remarkable game I've ever seen". Can only infer that it was - in which ever way you gauge it - better/superior than any match before (Liverpool's Instabul victory included) - in his opinion; whether he deliberately had our victory in mind at the time or not.

    So there.

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  4. Yet again JK, the headline has no substance. No mention of the Istanbul final from Souey. Perhaps you need some journalism lessons?

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  5. No, he said 'It's the most remarkable game I've ever seen', which, by extension, means he's saying the game is better than Istanbul. Souness is an ex-Red and presumably a fan; a Liverpool fan wouldn't forget about Istanbul in the heat of the moment. Additionally, if you watched the interview, he was specifically asked if this was the greatest CL game, so he had time to think about his answer.

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  6. No chance! Liverpool played 120 minutes with 10 men(and 1 Traore). There was far more shots and match saving tackles up to the last minute, Chelsea only had to claw back 1 goal and Barca invited Torres' goal and Neville's orgasm by playing most their team in the stand behind Chelsea's goal.

    Two remarkable games but no comparison!!

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  7. I have read this a few times now since the game and can only conclude that some people think that hanging on for grim death in a semi-final is better than coming from 3.0 down at half time, against a team full of world class players, just like Barcelona. Strange world

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  8. Nothing can compare to LIV v MILAN cos Liverpool actually won the EUROPEAN CUP. Chavs r only in the final and have won shit yet.

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  9. Ridiculous... What did this remarkable game win them??? A place in the final! Were they 3-0 down at half time??? No it was a great result for Zchelsea but from a neutrals perspective you will never top that night in Istanbul... The comeback of all comebacks and the penalty heroics of Dudek too... Oh and it was to win the European cup so even more special!!!

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  10. It was an amazing game no doubt. Playing against what is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever teams. But the fact is Chelsea were only ever 1 goal away from getting through. Even if they had lost the game 2-1 they still would have made it through the final. It was a tough task for them but it cant compare with The Liverpool Milan game. 3-0 at half time to come back and win on pens? especially the goals scored and all that it included. You cant compare the two. The occasion of it being a final vs a semi final alone is enough to discount what Souness. There was also an article in the Telegraph where the writer also had the same opinion in that the Chelsea/Barca game was more impressive.

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  11. No chance, and i'm sure Souness will tell you that. Great win for Chelsea, but it's quite easy to sit back and leave your faith in the other teams hands, and quite another to actually comeback from 3 down against Milan in a final through your own hard work, coming away with the European Cup. As good as Chelseas defending against Barcelona, it still doesn't come close to Liverpools achievement. Maybe if they do another Houdini act against Bayern they can realistically make the claim. Otherwise it's all for naught

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  12. it's all down to interpretation - what does remarkable mean? .. is it better that saying "the greatest" game he's ever seen? If you asked him the question what is the greatest CL game he's ever seen then I'm sure the answer would be different - certainly if he was watching a different team. I think he was just kissing Chelsea ass, and would have doen the same hadi t been Arseanl, Manure or Citeh

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  13.  
     
    (1) liverpool won a final against the best team then.
    (2) 3-0 down against the best team on the final of the champion's league and winning finally
    (3) is that comparable to a semifinal won (with a draw s'il vous plait) on the return leg.
    (4) should be remembered that liverpool once thrashed the then great real madrid 3-1 (away win) in the same competition.
    (5) we cannot compare the football institution which is liverpool and which by the way gave souness his fame, to a club in which huge amount of money has been poured for years now / sorry invested into during a long period of time.

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  14. Most people don't care about Souness Opinion. But taking the game to Milan at that time asked for guts. Liverpool smashed and scared the hell out of Milan and took the cup. Chelsea were just running away like mice. To be fair, it evens out the unfair refereeing against them in 2009

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  15. Liverpool was a remarkable game because they needed 3 goals to draw the game. Chelsea only needed 1 and they were already going thru. And I don't understand by drawing against barca, why chelsea are very proud of themselves (i understand it was 10 men) but do they really think that lowly of themselves where they had to park the bus in 2 games and rely on barca being bad in front of goal (pen miss) and also have no luck (hitting the woodwork). 

    Liverpool, albeit being underdogs against milan, didn't park the bus, the first half was as open as it could have been (and we let in 3 goals as well), but we came out in different form 2nd half and leveled the game, and maybe we did defend more than we attacked, but still it wasn't the way chelsea parked the bus.

    We did have that stroke of luck though, when Shevshenko missed that sitter. But still and incredible achievement being 3-0 at half time. Chelsea were only 2-1 down at half time and were still winning the tie.

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  16. its obviously not as great as our night in Istanbul as it was far mor dramatic, a better game and we lifted the european cup. The chelsea game was like watching a training match. I really hope Bayern beat them. I fucking hate chelsea and it would kill me to see torres and meireles lift the european cup.

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  17. Another article by a looser that does not even seem to be able to make good stories up. If you going to make up everything you write you might as well make up something good. But no chance with you cause you are a looser.

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  18. Souness lost the plot years ago. i take anything he says with a pinch of salt, he is the man who dismantled a great Liverpool side because he had a problem with certain players, he was also always jealous of Kenny Dalglish.

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  19. I think that shevshenko was denied the goal by dudek's hands. I mean that jerzy was not saved by the POSTS BE IT RIGHT OR LEFT.

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  20. Do you even know what "remark"able means? It does not mean greatest, or the best, or even amazing.

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  21. Not to me it is'nt , could' nt give a Donald about Chelsea , but fair play to them they done good against the odds

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  22. Mediocre manager but a good pundit, imo. Though disagree with him on the Chelsea game.

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  23. They might... but they'll be wearing tracksuits.

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  24. No, to me it's not even close, aside from the fact it was an awful example of football tactics, it also was only a semi final, Liverpool's comeback won the greatest trophy in club football, from a further deficit, and most importantly played football to win it!

    Liverpool showed courage and brilliance to win the cup, anyone that say's chelsea were the better team in either leg of the semi is lying, Chelsea were lucky to get through, luckier to win the first leg, and lucky that barca hit the post 4 times. Fair play to Chelsea as their tactic came off in the end, and yes only with 10 players, but at the end of the day if they don't win their next champions league game it will mean nothing, it won't go down in history as anything other than a good semi. Liverpool's 2005 is written in history, and they've got the trophy to show for it.

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  25. Same, I hope Bayern hammer them, and hopefully Chelsea will try to play and it will be a better game to watch.

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  26. What did Chelsea win for beating Barca?????.....................Liverpool were 3-0 down starting the 2nd half in the final..................nuff said!!!!

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  27. It was a leading question..Souness was being invited to gush and fawn and took the bait

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  28.  I fully agree with you!! parking a bus against a team and then hoofing a ball to the other half for a goal? what is so heroic in that? not like they had to fight back and actually play football! AND WIN...

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  29. they done against the odds because they did not play! had they played football, they would have never ever stood a chance but to play 10 men in front of your goal? they you defo stand a chance! its only coz it was against barca that they are saying that!

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  30. i hope di matteo gets the job. the high they are on will soon smash into the turf at their wa* palace in fulham. he will have to dismantle the ageing side and go and spend on his own players (or whoever the nosy oligarch tells him to). lets face it, that performance was desperate and they got away with it. they didn't win over there (like we did),torres came on and was playing at left back! i will always give credit,if it's due, to a great performance. this was awful, barca let them off the hook. if this is how they intend to win games,and they have been shi*te in the league too,it won't be long before roman tires of it,he wants the best football whilst winning everything. di matteo was turned down for the sheffield utd job only a few months back! let him have it i say.

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  31. Sometimes the ex footballers get carried away right after a match, I'm sure if he thought about it he'd have more sense. Chelsea were always just one goal away from going through with Barcelona having arguably the worst defence in Europe. Liverpool had to score 3 goals in 45 minutes against an Italian side, Chelsea were down to 10 men, but that didn't really matter because they weren't there to play attacking football just blocking their goal.

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  32. Barca defence is overrated because of the way the team dominates possession but 'worse in Europe' is pushing it, me thinks.

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  33. Honestly outside of England do you think they'd ever show either Chelsea v Barcelona legs as classic matches? Liverpool v Milan is still shown everywhere as inspirational, Liverpool won fans all over the world, Chelsea most likely lost fans playing that way.

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  34. sorry breaking news, i just have to share it with the world. we have just had the BEST news this season....... CHARLIE ' MAGICAL LEFT FOOT ' ADAM IS OUT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! BRILLIANT,FANTASTIC, THAT HAS MADE MY DAY!!! THANK YOU TO THE MEDICAL STAFF, FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP HIM AND TO THE PHYSICIAN WHO MADE THAT CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  35. shame it won't be for good.

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  36. our carling cup victory over cardiff was more remarkable ;)

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  37. "MOST remarkable".

    I'm fairly sure the Instabul match would be deemed "remark"able - worthy of remark - by most spectators (correct me if you think I'm wrong). Therefore, both matches being classed as remarkable; he must be inferring that the Chelsea match has the higher standing among "remarkable" matches - due to the use of "MOST".Doesn't matter how you define remarkable.

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  38. h8utd...thats a fuckin disgraceful thing to say about 1 of our own...call yourself a fan???twat.

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  39. Wilson Michaelpaul1:23 pm, April 26, 2012

    Nonsense from Souness - 2005 was so full of high drama I know fans who were physically ill watching it , that final is immortal in the minds of all LFC fans everywhere  - Utd's come from behind last minute win in ' 99 ' is universally recognised as the 2nd greatest game in CL history but its still a long way behind the 2005 final.

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  40. I second that...

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  41. Do you know what the word 'pedant' means? :-)

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  42. Mine too.




    Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note

    -------- Original message --------
    Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Souness: Chelsea triumph exceeds Liverpool's 2005 Milan comeback. Agree? | Liverpool-Kop.com

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  43. Very dissapointing comments from Souness, just goes to show that he doesn't engage his brain with his mouth much these days, even his comments re Terry were lame and lacked courage to say it how it really was.....

    Istanbul was head and shoulders above this game, thats not to take anything away from what was a very entertaining semi final, definitely a great team effort of resilience and determination being a man down etc but it wasn't a final.....and Chelsea were NOT 3-0 down at half time and written off by most people who were watching the game.....

    Now that was TRULY remarkable, as a spectacle of courage and strength over adversity it knocked spots off the Chelsea game IMO, Souness is a muppet who is obviously more concerned about his contract with Sky etc than his own convictions......

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  44. will they ever make a film or a theatre production out of chelseas game??? no. not that important then!!

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  45. 2005 WAS A FINAL,LIVERPOOL WERE 3-0 BEHIND CHELSEA WAS LEADING BARCA,SO SOUNESS GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT.

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  46. Well, the 2005 final would take some beating, it was probably a more exciting game, and definitely a better game than 1999, although the Barcelona game probably was not far behind. But Barcelona were only ahead for 6 minutes in the entire tie. What made Chelsea's achievement remarkable was based on what we thought was going to happen once Terry showed what a thug he was and they went 2-0 down. What made 2005 so much better was that the worst had already happened. The was no fearing the worst. It was 3-0 at half time. If Messi scores the penalty, Chelsea lose about 6-1. Sure, Milan missed chances, like Barcelona, but the turnaround from our boys just couldn't be explained that night. Chelsea's was quite simple, still heroic, but simple, they were hanging on for dear life. In fact, if Ramires doesn't score so quickly, they probably get thrashed 5-0. That was as important as the penalty miss. I hate to say it, but i even rate Man Utd's win above Chelsea's achievement.  

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  47. Saying that, we should not trivialise what Chelsea achieved the other night, it was heroic. Just because ours was better does not mean theirs was rubbish. I certainly gave them no chance and it would not even have dared to hope they could get through and Terry be sent off because it would seem impossible. I find it disappointing that no one has found a way to take it to Barcelona yet. All these highly paid coaches and they all seem to think that hanging on and getting lucky is the only strategy.

    This will really put the wind in Chelsea's sails now and they are a real problem for us at Wembley now. Particularly Torres. Two things that work for us, though, are that they will still have a league game to go and will want 4th, and they may feel the FA Cup is 3rd in their list of priorities.

    Wonder how Tottenham supporters will feel, realising that if they come 4th and Chelsea win it they will miss out in any case? Their hated rivals who they can hardly ever manage to beat. Think the FA will be getting a large bill if they want Redknapp.

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  48. Yes, but one goal away when down to 10 men and playing in the Nou Camp, with an hour to go, is not your usual 'one goal away'.

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  49. Agreed, but can anyone blame them when their thug of a captain (who i hope is the main reason they lose fans) left the rest of the team in the lurch?

    Istanbul is clearly the better game but I would say, in order to not offend anyone, that I cannot recall a 2 legged tie involving other sides that has been as dramatic as that or where I was so surprised at the outcome. To see Torres rounding the keeper will take some beating I'm afraid.

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  50. The Chelsea was an interesting game but certainly does not come near the Liverpool/Milan game. Chelsea had a lead from the first game and just need only 1 away goal. Liverpool had to do more - score 3 times! They need to keep pushing forward with the risk of a counter attack goal.  

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  51. It would hurt me more if they lift the FA cup.

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  52. Or..... He never saw our game in Istanbul.

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  53. Trouble is, if Chelsea go there and win you can bet Sky will put a spin on that and say it's better than when LFC won in Roma's back yard.

    Remember THAT one, Souness?!!

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  54. I think it's since Barca signed Fabregas they have gone downhill a bit. He played for a team of underachievers and bottlers, and consequently himself bottled a huge chance at the 'Bridge.

    What an albatross...

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  55. You mean Sky resort to these kind of tactics? Frankly, I'm stunned.

    Didn't see the game myself, as I was playing football, but saw the goals on Sky Sports News and found Gary Neville's 'orgasm' a little unnerving. 
    Wonder if any United fans were a bit pissed off with his outburst?

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  56. Inter also went down to 10 men early in the game in their semi final 2nd leg against Barca at the Nou Camp in 2010 and got through, so I think Souness was just excited.  Besides, if (and hopefully "when") Chelsea lose to Bayern in the final, it will count for nothing.

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  57. It's embarrassing to suggest that this Chelsea game even compares to the final win in 2005.

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  58. NO! thats impossible, they had a week to get their Sh*t together, we had 15 minutes. All they had to do was keep the score level, we hd to score three.

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  59. No way.Our cup final was far the better one.Souness is a fool...as usual.Apart of being a great player for us,he did nothing good.

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  60. Little wonder why lately ESPN had stop inviting Souness to be a pundit! He obviously got it wrong in all his assessments. If he still calls himself a Red, he should have his head checked!

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  61. "If the
    Chelsea-Barcelona game is the most 'remarkable' he's ever seen, then that seems
    to suggest Souness puts it above Liverpool's win in Istanbul."

    Or perhaps he just got caught up in the hyperbole of the moment and it suggests no such thing?

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