The Genius of Rafa

Watching the match against Maccabi Haifa this week was a frustrating experience for 87 minutes. A disjointed Liverpool side saw their defence clinically punctured while their midfield and attack laboured to create clear-cut chances. A pre-season lack of fitness was evident and the new lads weren’t quite in synch with their team-mates.

I was nervous. Bellamy’s well-taken follow-up to Sissoko’s Haman-like effort didn’t instigate the goal-filled onslaught the Kop was hoping for. As time drifted by and the pressure mounted, the absence of an old-fashioned centre-forward (Kuyt?) to get on the end of Pennant’s superb crosses with any conviction became exasperating. Peter Crouch brings several qualities to the team, but only one in five of his headers has enough power combined with placement to trouble a top goalie.

Step up to the plate, our man Stevie G... Except that this time he didn’t. To put it bluntly, he was out of puff. Still, I thought, wasn’t he lying on the Cardiff pitch with cramp just seconds before belting in the last-minute equaliser that ended up winning us the Cup in May?

A Liverpool substitution. Take off Sissoko and go for broke? What? The numbers 8 and 11 being held aloft! Come on, Rafa – this time you’ve made a mistake. We know you love your Spanish signings, but who’s the one player you want on the field when you need a goal in the last five minutes? We all know the answer, and he should have been named the new England captain this week.

But on came Mark Gonzalez. Far from impressive pre-season (but who was?) and now thrown on to deliver crosses from the left for Crouch to softly head into the grateful arms of the Israeli goalkeeper. My hopes faded.

I should have known. When am I going to learn? Rafa is the best tactical coach in the world. Ferguson did this and once undeservedly won a European Cup, but Rafa does it successfully week-in, week-out.

As the ball landed deep in the area at Gonzalez’s feet from Xabi Alonso’s best pass of the night, the Chilean youngster almost fell over it. The goalie rushed out. It looked like another chance had gone begging. But somehow Gonzalez managed to untangle the ball from his feet and get a shot away. Time slowed to a crawl and I imagined the ball flying wide of the post. But instead it arrowed into the top corner of the Anfield Road net and he wheeled away to celebrate one of the most remarkable Reds’ debuts of all time.

In the last seconds, Pepe Reina produced a save that was worth a goal to enable us to hang onto victory. The second leg will be far from easy, but a lot easier than if we’d drawn this match.

Rafa had done it again. That’s why he’s the gaffer and I’m a blogger.

posted by John