The man who keeps his friends close, his enemies even closer.

That man, mind you, is one who pokes agony all over me. A pretender when he took the reigns 20 years ago, he has emerged a master and one of the finest managers in the world. That he has almost set the record straight in 11 glory years, speaks of a man with immense stature.

Alex Ferguson’s greatest challenge arrived in the form of a nutcase duo; one believed he could buy everything, the other believed he could win everything. The challenge was nothing compared to the occasional verbal sparring with Wenger, or the spiteful 2 games with Liverpool every season. Chelsea’s dynamic team meant that the bar had been further raised to be crowned champions of England. Liverpool have found life easier in the Champions League where the spotlight is on the team of the night, not of an entire campaign. Carefully blending a team of true consistency and grit was the ultimate challenge for Ferguson, and he has openly adopted his greatest nemesis as a person he’d share good bottles of wine with. Ever since that fateful evening Porto eliminated Man Utd from the Champion’s League, you get the feeling it was the start of a stormy rivalry between the two managers every time they met.

That this season they have made their love affair public, Ferguson had more than just gall to talk about the team he probably spites as much as Liverpool. He had respect. And maybe Mourinho gave him a tad too much, or must be still drunk from all the wine Fergie has put on his doorstep. He had honestly believed he could win everything. But was his own stubbornness to blame? He spoke of what might happen if Roman doesn’t listen to him and not give him some $$$ to reinforce a beleaguered team who was missing far too many ‘untouchables’. And it was apparent on the pitch with 10 draws. Mourinho said, “I knew there will be a season where i will not be a champion.” But i dont think this was the season.

While Mourinho would envy the longevity and status of Ferguson, the latter would swap his soul for youth. How Ferguson turned the tide on Mourinho by turning the pressure over to the Champions was the key to this season’s league title. For the last 2 seasons, Ferguson was playing catch, and just could not match Chelsea’s strength. This season he forced Chelsea to paddle up to them, and 4 competitions proved too much for a Chelsea squad that was thinner than last season’s.

Ferguson lured Mourinho into far too many drinks, and even gave him a sparkle of wild imaginations; that they could meet each other in the Champion’s League final. In all that talk, Fergie must have been lusting over the Premiership all along anyway. And the Devil himself triumphs in the end.

Liverpool 3 Chelsea 0

If every season Liverpool beats Chelsea in a semi final of any competition means we’ll win it, i’ll pray for Chelsea every season, please, do well enough to lose to us. Who would’ve thought an epic final would be staged again? Battle Royale 2. We’ll have to pray for another miracle following Milan’s anal pounding on Wednesday night. I doubt even Liverpool’s resilience can hold the mighty Milan at bay for 90 minutes, while we sneak one in at their end. I believe hunger and desire will be the key.

I will be the first to acknowledge that the road to Athens was not easy, but was helped along by fate, i suppose, call it anything you want. Barcelona’s lunacy in the Nou Camp, Alex’s rather convenient ghosting after so crucially denied Arsenal a place in the final 8, and Carvalho’s prudence in defence was sorely missed at Anfield. He could have possibly turned Mourinho’s blasphemy into truth had he started, about how Chelsea were the more dominant force in Merseyside.

Now, a different proposition; a FULL strength Milan exhibited one of their finest performance, perhaps reminiscent of their first half blitzkrieg which rampaged Liverpool in Istanbul, and disposed the soon to be crowned English Champions. Disposed being the least annoying word at the moment.

Hacks in the press commented that in 2005, Benitez’s stroke of genius and good fortune struck gold when he brought the ol’ big ears back to Anfield, at least a crowning jewel in the storeroom which will be the envy throughout Europe for awhile, had bought him ‘an extra few seasons’ following the mishap of finishing 5th in the league. But hell, i’d give Rafa an arm and 20 years if he’ll bring back more European Cups and keep grabbing Chelsea by the balls in every semi final.

The fact is, this small club from Merseyside now have to chance to stake its claim on the European scene like they were once so feared; win in Athens and we’re level with Milan and boast we’re arguably the 2nd most successful team in Europe. 6 Finals and 5 wins. Milan has been to 10 finals and won 6.

Milan stakes their pride in deep history and luxury and glamour; none of which the army of Liverpool fans have come to take part in and that’s what makes this club special. It’s the people’s club, the Liverbird on your chest is the essence, and we don’t know the fine Italian wines, the robust historical influence and impact on modern culture but by golly, we want this trophy to fill our sweat and emotions.