Roma didn’t deserve to be in the Final against us – and I don’t think they’ll be there this time
My focus is very much on Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Roma on Tuesday night at Anfield.
But I have to admit my mind has wandered back several times in the past few days to when we defeated the Italian side on their own ground to win the European Cup in 1984.
First of all, I still can’t quite believe the Final was allowed to be played at the Stadio Olimpico, as it was a home game for them.
That was an irresponsible move by UEFA.
A few incidents from the game are still quite clear in my mind.
Phil Neal scoring to put us ahead is one, as is them equalising before half-time through Roberto Pruzzo.
It went to extra-time and there was little action.
The dreaded penalty shoot-out arrived and Stevie Nicol missed the first kick.
I’m not sure of the finer details after that, but what has never left me was the way our keeper, Bruce Grobbelaar, acted during the shoot-out.
He was wobbling his legs on the goal-line and doing everything he could to put off the Italian players.
It was typical Bruce, but none of us knew he was going to behave that way. It was totally off the cuff.
Well, it worked. Francesco Graziani missed his kick and Alan Kennedy scored the crucial kick to give us a 4-2 victory.
That was our fourth European Cup victory and, obviously, one of the highlights of my career.
It doesn’t come much sweeter than winning the most-prestigious prize in club football.
But there was also a feeling from us that Roma didn’t really deserve to be there.
Dundee United should have been in that Final. They lost 3-2 to Roma in the semi-final and everyone felt at the time the defeat was under suspicious circumstances.
It was later revealed that the match referee for the return leg in Rome, Frenchman Michel Vautrot, had been bribed by a Roma director.
It denied Jim McLean and his players the chance to play in the Final and give us an all-British contest.
He awarded Roma a controversial penalty in the game, and the then SFA chief, Ernie Walker, demanded a probe. But UEFA didn’t want to know.
Even 34 years on, it’s disgraceful to know that skulduggery took place.
That is totally unacceptable and retrospective action should be taken.
Using underhand tactics is no way to achieve success. The guardians of our game should take action and hand out punishments.
Really, it would have been sensational for another Scottish team to reach the European Cup Final.
The only club to do so has been Celtic in 1967 and 1970.
For United to be denied in such circumstances is cruel and heartbreaking.
To this day, and writing about it now, I feel for the likes of Paul Sturrock, Dave Narey and Paul Hegarty, who were all Scotland team-mates.
They were denied such a glorious occasion and the chance to write something incredible into the history books of the club.
There will be nothing untoward in the tie on Tuesday night.
I’m looking forward to it, and for Liverpool to win without conceding a goal would be fabulous.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will rightly fancy themselves to score in the away leg, and that would make it very difficult for the Italians.
However, I’m not underestimating Roma for one minute.
They showed unbelievable belief and patience to come back from three goals down to defeat Barcelona on the last round. That was an amazing achievement. To get the right result, Liverpool just need to be themselves, relax and play their normal game.
I’m sure Jurgen will make that very point to them.
The team is full of talent, but it also has a fantastic work ethic and togetherness, all the ingredients required to win games at the very highest level.
They beat Manchester City in the last round, so there is nothing to fear.
They deserved to beat Pep Guardiola’s side, and put on a masterclass performance over the two legs.
Being in the semi-final is an indication of the success they’ve had this season, and an endorsement that most things have been done in the correct way.
I have a feeling Liverpool will be in the Final, I really do.
Klopp has some outstanding footballers to choose from, from Andy Robertson to Mo Salah, from Virgil van Dijk to Roberto Firmino.
Anfield will be absolutely rocking and we all want another memorable night.