I really feel that the Champions League was at its most exciting during the mid 2000s. The 2005 trophy was won by a Liverpool side that only got through the group stages at the death and came from 3-0 down to win on penalties in the final, but it was the previous year was my favourite modern era campaign. It was a year for the smaller teams as the Milans and Madrids of this world suddenly looked vulnerable.
There are several key moments that I remember quite vividly and the first involves one of the European giants crashing out in the group stages. In a team that could boast players such as; Cannavaro, Adriano, Recoba, Zanetti and Kily Gonzales, you would have expected Internazionale to be at the business end of the tournament and early signs were that they would walk through. Two wins from two including an away win at Arsenal suggested they were a cut above the rest, but they would go on to take only two more points in the next four games, including a 5-1 home thrashing at home with Arsenal returning the favour with interest. Thierry Henry sealed his status as the best player in world football in this game in my opinion. Inter were knocked out on goal difference to relative minnows Lokomotiv Moscow in a bizarre group where three points separated all four teams.
In another minor shock, perennial winners Ajax finished bottom of a group containing Celta Vigo and Club Brugge, although I have to say, this seemed to be a period where for whatever reason, the lesser Spanish teams such as Celta, Villarreal, Deportivo and Real Sociedad were really tough opponents.
Having refreshed my memory on what happened in the knockout stages, I find it even more baffling.
On to the second round. Arsenal cruised through against Celta Vigo having scored three goals in the away leg and Milan thumped Sparta Prague at home after a goalless first leg. Chelsea took a we’ve got a better defence than you approach, scoring the only goal of the tie against Stuttgart and even then it was an own goal. Lyon took both legs against Real Sociedad 1-0, including a goal in the second leg from cult icon and free kick wizzard Juninho Pernambucano. Real Madrid did what they always do and squeaked through against Bayern and Monaco edged Lokomotiv in a rather dull tie, but the final two ties were a warning of things to come, big teams beware!
The first upset pretty much backs up my theory of Spanish teams back then, as Walter Pandiani and Albert Luque (latterly of Birmingham City & Newcastle United respectively) scored in two 1-0 wins over Italian giants Juventus, who obviously weren’t as much of a pain in the arse to get rid of in Europe as they are now, despite in my view probably having a better side than the modern incarnation (Del Piero, Trezeguet, Camoranesi etc.). I loved the Deportivo side back then and choose to remember Diego Tristan in that era rather than the overweight plodder at West Ham.
Now, granted Porto had some recent pedigree going into this, being UEFA Cup holders and dominating domestically, but this was Manchester United for goodness sake, and a Manchester United that had stormed their group (Porto had finished second in theirs to Real Madrid, no great shame in that). There was definitely a perceived difference in class, especially when Quinton Fortune scored the first to make it 1-0 in United’s away leg. Porto’s abundant ability eventually told and another future West Ham flop (there must be something in this), Benni McCarthy, bagged a brace to swing the tie around. I’m not going to look it up but this must be the only time in European Cup history that two South Africans scored in the same game. United’s away goal left the return leg perfectly poised, with Paul Scholes scoring in the first half to make United look somewhat comfortable. Porto rallied at the death and Costinha burst into the box to break United hearts. Giant slayed. Jose Mourinho would then announce himself on the world stage by sprinting down the Old Trafford touchline to join his players in celebration, I think an 8 year old version of myself did the same round the living room because as readers of previous articles will know, I aren’t the biggest fan of Man United.
The Quarter Finals served up three topsy tervy ties and one fairly straight forward one. Lets get the boring one out of the way. After all the excitement in the last round, Porto decided to take this one by the scruff of the neck against Lyon. A 2-0 home victory sealed it and an early Maniche goal in the second leg killed off the tie with the second leg eventually finishing 2-2.
Holders Milan cruised to a 4-1 victory in the home leg to kill off the tie, or so it would seem. In one of the great modern collapses, Deportivo absolutely dominated the second leg, matching Milans first leg goal tally without conceding, another huge upset fell into place and provincial Deportivo joined Porto in the Semis, hardly a classic latter stage pairing.
In a similar vein, Real Madrid dominated the first leg, with the score finishing 4-2 after former Madrid striker Fernando Morientes scored late on to give the visitors hope. This proved crucial, as Monaco won the return leg 3-1, Morientes again the tormentor, costing his old club on away goals and punishing them for offloading him.
The final leg, an all English affair, pitted soon to be invincible Arsenal against moneybags Chelsea. A dower first leg at Stamford Bridge saw a scrappy 1-1 leave Arsenal as slight favourites. This was definitely the case after Jose Reyes (what happened to him?) put them in front on the stroke of half time. Chelsea were much the better side though, and Frank Lampard equalised before of all people, Wayne Bridge slid in at the back post right at the end to get the winner, at the time another upset and a sign of things to come in English football domestically.
Semi Finals, one a goal fest, the other the most Mourinho of Mourinho ties. First leg at the Estadio do Dragao, Deportivo hold Porto and leave the tie goalless going into their home leg, advantage to them, especially when they’d been scoring goals for fun up to now. This was classic Mourinho though, Porto broke their spirits with dullness before eventually winning from a penalty, I don’t think Jose would have it any other way.
In the other semi final, the underdog once again prevailed. Monaco laid the foundations in the first leg, with probably the best strike force in the competition that year, all three; Shabani Nonda (later useless at Blackburn), ponytailed Dado Prso (Rangers legend…) and Morientes all bagged to leave the tie at 3-1. Their attacking intent again carried them through the second leg, with Morientes scoring again in a 2-2 draw. Porto vs Monaco final, where did that come from?
The Final turned into a procession and a crowning of a new king. Porto dominated from the outset and ran out comfortable winners with the score finishing 3-0. To be honest the only thing I can remember from the game is Dmitri Alenichev scoring a belting volley, then immediately thinking he looked about 50 when he ran off to celebrate.
The real drama came after the game, with Mourinho throwing his medal into the crowd and announcing his departure to Chelsea. A Special One was born.
False 9 