Thursday, May 24, 2018

Manchester United fans want Liverpool to lose but are also envious

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An hour after the 2005 Champions League final, I received a text message from a Liverpool-supporting friend who was sat behind the goal in Istanbul.

It read: "I know how you felt in Barcelona." There was no gloating that his side had just won a fifth European Cup, just a genuine admission after one of the highlights of his life.

For Manchester United fans, the game had been going so well as Milan, widely regarded as the best team on earth, raced into a 3-0 half-time lead. Imagine the mood among defeated supporters on their long journey home to Liverpool?

 It gave me pleasure to anticipate their pain because, while schadenfreude is a German word, it has strong currency among football fans.

Who doesn't enjoy seeing their rivals lose?
Then Liverpool scored three times in six minutes after the break, before netting three shootout penalties to Milan's two.

For 13 years since, United fans have been given the "five" salute whenever the two English rivals teams have played each other. I hope it doesn't become six on Saturday night in Kiev, but do feel conflicted.

I am envious that Liverpool are in a European Cup final and United are not.

 I was envious at the sight of their players celebrating in front of a massive away following in Rome, one which seemed to stretch for miles, having reached the final,

 Because United fans know how good that feeling is. I am also envious of the thousands, who will undertake a great adventure to Kiev and respect anyone who travels so far to watch their team.

I know enough Liverpool fans and they're not that different to my friends in Manchester. They are working class lads from England's North West who love their football.

Give me a proper football supporter over a corporate fat cat with a category one ticket and paid-for hotel room.

British supporters will go the extra mile to see their team, even if it involves completely irrational behavior.

Liverpool had 5,000 in Rome for their semifinal second leg, whereas Barcelona took 500 in the previous round.

Atletico Madrid didn't sell out their Europa League final allocation last week, while Real Madrid have returned tickets for Saturday's game.

Liverpool and Madrid fans are not the first to have logistical issues when getting to a European final and UEFA have promised that more thought will go into the suitability of further venues.

I have no problem with the games being played away from repeated visits to London, Paris, Berlin and Rome, but host cities must be able to host big numbers without charging €500 for a hotel room.

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