‘An organisation notoriously sensitive about infringement of their copyright, Manchester United were distraught to watch Liverpool's Steven Gerrard deliver the type of dynamic, box-to-box display that once was the trademark of Roy Keane. Gerrard's eclipse of Keane in the central acre was the pivotal feature of yesterday's intoxicating final.
Keane strove hard to inspire his disappointing team-mates. The Irishman raged against those who failed to work or concentrate or fight as hard as him. But with his edge tempered by that debilitating hip problem, Keane was blunted brutally by the brilliant Gerrard.
Gerard Houllier knew his side were the underdogs and the one he most let off the leash was his feisty No 17. Having performed well as the anchorman against Auxerre on Thursday, Gerrard was given the freedom of Cardiff yesterday, encouraged to raid forward as Dietmar Hamann shielded the back-four with his customary expertise.’
And not to be left out Alan Smith gives his twopenneth:
‘If Manchester United are to grab back the initiative in English football, if they are to resume a domineering grip that led to seven Premiership titles, it might well be that their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is forced to take a long, hard look this summer
at his options in midfield.For in the Millennium Stadium yesterday we saw, in Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, the present and the future, a wonderful example of what it takes to excel these days in an unforgiving environment that demands unremitting energy. Never mind his deflected goal, Gerrard's work-rate alone was largely responsible for his side's efficient victory in this Worthington Cup final.
For Manchester United, however, the news was less encouraging. In Roy Keane and Juan Sebastian Veron, they fielded one magnificent past master with his best work behind him and one juggling ball-player of tremendous ability but not ideally suited to the rigours of England.
Champions League football, now that is a different matter. No coincidence here that Veron has produced his most innovative and effective stuff for the more tactical demands of the European chessboard.
For United, it does not help either that Ryan Giggs,
despite his brace against Juventus, is struggling to reach the dizzy heights of yesteryear, so further destabilising that crucial midfield axis.’Subscribe to the Red Issue magazine on-line:
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