Money eyeing a repeat of Paisley’s greatest conquest
The former defender tells Chris Bascombe how a patched-up Liverpool side shocked Bayern in 1981
Jurgen Klopp is likely to be without 50 per cent of his preferred back four when Liverpool face Bayern Munich this week – just a little bit of history repeating itself when two of Europe’s most decorated clubs meet at Anfield. When the pair were last drawn together, in the 1981 European Cup semi-final, Bob Paisley faced an identical defensive crisis when captain Phil Thompson and left-back Alan Kennedy were ruled out of the decisive second leg in Munich.
Paisley would turn to two of those excelling in Roy Evans’s reserve team, Colin Irwin and Richard Money. What followed was the most satisfying of all Paisley’s European conquests.
“I would imagine most Liverpool supporters already thought we were up against it with the injuries to Phil and Alan,” recalls Money. “Even more so when Kenny Dalglish was injured and had to go off after nine minutes.”
Bayern, inspired by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Paul Breitner, were already arranging their trip to Paris after a goalless first leg at Anfield. However, the Germans’ arrogance proved one of the greatest own goals scored against a Liverpool side as streetwise as they were talented.
“There has been a lot said and written about that night, particularly the fact that when we arrived at the stadium the Bayern officials were handing out leaflets to supporters about how to get tickets for the final,” says Money. All those stories were absolutely true. It was a massive factor in how we played. It was a big mistake by Bayern to underestimate the quality in that Liverpool dressing room. The senior players found that extra 10 or 20 per cent to see us through.
“I have never seen a dressing room as focused and determined as it was that night. There were big players in that team – Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Alan Hansen and Ray Kennedy were among the best in Europe at that time. The likes of Phil Neal, Ray Clemence and Jimmy Case were in there getting together and they were all going to lead from the front. When you looked around that dressing room you felt you were in good hands.”
Money and Irwin were not apprentices at that stage of their careers – both had turned 24 – but they were European rookies. Entering a Liverpool dressing room of such formidable personalities could be as intimidating to some newcomers as facing an opponent.
“When I was a player I felt that Liverpool dressing room managed itself,” said Money. “But I have been in coaching and management a long time now and I came to see it much differently as the years passed.
“It was the Liverpool coaches who built it that way, creating players who took responsibility. For them, it was about creating winners. That was what they focused on. Are you a winner? Bob just went about it in a very quiet way, saying the right things at the right time with the backup of experienced staff. Bob’s instruction to me before the game was simple: ‘We trust you – you will be fine’. It was Roy Evans who looked after me, Colin and Howard Gayle. He built our confidence. I was not inexperienced, but I did not feel part of the first XI. I had 250 league games behind me, captaining Scunthorpe and Fulham. I was not a newbie, but that arena and environment was different. The size of the game was a step up.”
The subsequent 1-1 draw is generally celebrated for Gayle’s brilliant contribution, sent on for the injured Dalglish with the instruction to “run ragged” the Bayern defence.
Ray Kennedy’s 83rd-minute away goal proved conclusive.
“It turned out quite comfortable,” says Money. “There were no real scares until Rummenigge equalised with about three minutes to go. They had a winger, Karl Del’Haye – quick and direct – and my task was to look after him. As was the norm in Europe we soaked up the pressure but they never really put us under that much.”
Money retained his place in defence on domestic duty until Kennedy returned for the final. The Lowestoftborn defender would be an unused substitute in Paris as the senior left-back famously struck the winner against Real Madrid. Munich would prove the highlight of Money’s Anfield career.
“Alan said he was surprised he played in the final in Paris because he had so little football before it, but I had a different perspective,” says Money.
“As soon as Alan was fit, I expected him to be selected, so it was not a big
‘I have never seen a dressing room as focused’