Champions League 2001: Milan vs Leeds United
Milan, and Barcelona, and Kim Milton Nielsen, and UEFA, and probably Christos Michas, all stood between Leeds and six more lucrative group stage games.
Milan, and Barcelona, and Kim Milton Nielsen, and UEFA, and probably Christos Michas, all stood between Leeds and six more lucrative group stage games.
According to UEFA live television coverage was being requested by seventeen countries. Leeds were ready to turn the 4-0 scoreline from six weeks ago into motivation for sweeping the Blaugrana out of Europe.
O'Leary's babies had not, yet, dug into and ground out one of their Champions League matches. Travelling, working and getting the result were signs of maturity as long as you remember that growing up is boring.
Leeds were the winners by so much that the second half was a drift. Elland Road needed what it got: six goals and a random meltdown.
After being turned by Alan Smith and pulling him down by his shirt, Paolo Maldini had to take a wet booking while wearing a face of utter embarrassment. After United's chastening week it was a welcome sign.
Step one is Alan Smith kicking Rivaldo. Step two is Olivier Dacourt kicking Rivaldo. Step three is Rivaldo is orchestrating a move, swerving around Duberry and shooting past Martyn. The game isn't ten minutes old.
Dacourt had Batty playing more like his salad days when he and Vinnie Jones were running things in the middle together, taking it in turns at getting the ball and ganging up to never give other teams a moment's peace.
Dennis Wise told David O'Leary to calm down. David Batty found a plastic carrier bag on the pitch and threw it in Wise's face. Wise caught it and started following Batty, trying to throw it back. In keeping with the game, it was all more silly than vicious.