FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS
QUITE POSSIBLY the strangest Champions League final ever eventually produced the goals we were all expecting, although there was even more tears on show than net-busters in a thrilling European showpiece.
The waterfall of tears first began to flow when sobbing Liverpool messiah Mo Salah had to make way after a tussle with Real Madrid’s long-time master of the dark arts, Sergio Ramos.
Madrid’s Dani Carvajal was next to make an early exit and he too was blubbering like a toddler who had just scraped his knee after taking a tumble from the swings in the playground.
It was a batshit crazy final which pretty much had everything, from the sublime to the ridiculous, to calamities that cowgirl Jane wouldn’t even put her name to.
There always has to be a hero and a villain of the piece, but this time it was more evident than most.
There’s no doubting that Gareth Bale was the one wearing the shiny cape, but it was a toss up between Ramos and Loris Karius for who would have to face the most derision from the boo boys in the aftermath of a truly incredulous match.
The harsher critics could well have been humming the Smokey Robinson classic, ‘The Tears of a Clown’, as the camera continually focused on the distraught Liverpool goalkeeper, who probably wished the Kiev pitch would open up and swallow him whole.
For others is was all about calling the Spanish defender Ramos a dirty so and so, with accusations ranging from intentionally trying to rough up Salah, to others who are adamant that a premeditated move from the martial arts handbook was deliberately used to send the Egyptian maestro for an early shower.
Ramos may have even more red cards than the huge haul of medals that he has amassed during his glittering career, but he’s a serial winner and, like it or not, that winning mentality is what sets him apart from the average defender.
His methods might not always be the most palatable, but the sad reality is all teams need a player with the bite of a pitbull, whether it be Roy Keane kicking at heels at the heart of the great Manchester United side around the turn of the century, or Giorgio Chiellini taking ball and man in a crunching tackle for Juventus and Italy.
For all their attacking flair, pace and abundance of goals, Liverpool just don’t have that type of player, somebody that will roll up their sleeves and do the real dirty work for the cause.
Given the resources at their disposal in comparison to other European giants, it was no mean feat for Liverpool to reach the final in the first place and they need to add a bit of steel and strength in depth to their squad, as well as addressing the blatantly obvious flaws.
Going into the game it was always the Anfield crew’s stomach for the fight that was the biggest question mark over them, and the way their shoulders sagged once Salah left the field illustrated their spirit is a bit suspect when the chips are down.
Of course, the much-maligned Karius was the epitome of that brittle-boned confidence, and you just can’t legislate for two howlers of that magnitude from your goalkeeper.
That said, once the dust has settled, although they will continue to haunt Liverpool fans for the foreseeable future, the goalkeeping mistakes aren’t the abiding memory from a drama-filled final.
That honour goes to Gareth Bale for his wonder goal which put the Spaniards 2-1 ahead, unquestionably the sweetest strike ever in a Champions League final, showing the agility of a gazelle and the grace of a swan.
That’s the sort of lasting image you should be taking away from one of the biggest games on the planet; a moment of sheer magic to outshine Cristiano Ronaldo on an evening when he was kept relatively quiet.
The embarrassing errors by Karius and whether Ramos intentionally set out to hurt Liverpool’s main man were, of course, fascinating sub-plots, but the Welshman took centre stage and landed the leading role with real swagger.
Whether they turn your stomach or have you watching openmouthed in awe, there’s no doubting that Real Madrid are a special team and deserve high praise for their achievements.
To claim back-to-back Champions Leagues is a tough task, but to win three on the trot is simply phenomenal.
They may have struggled, and even rode their luck at times, during their run to the trophy this season but they still managed to find a way to get over the line.
That’s the sign of a truly great team and nobody can argue with that.