Champions: One decade later, the Atletico returns to Anfield: “I didn't know where to go” | Champions League 2019

The access door to Liverpool's locker room in Anfield is smaller than the visitor's. So is the wardrobe itself. The reason: that the opponent feels tiny, while the host, with his players close together, is agiguous. In the Atlantic they learned about the matter in 2008, during the group stage of the Champions (1-1), and I no longer caught him by surprise a couple of years later (2010), before that vibrant semifinal of the Europa League that served as the liberation for the club rojiblanco. Despite the defeat (2-1), Forln decided with a blow in the extra time. That victory gave us a leap and recognition in Europe. It was a step forward for the entity and a change in the mentality of the amateur, he acknowledges a decade later, Domnguez, one of the centrals in that magical night. Perhaps without it, nothing that happens on Wednesday along Anfield Road would have been possible.

Because it should be remembered that, at that time, the Attic traveled in a different vagn to the one of now. And, also, that he lives with enough economic and sports constraints. Despite the aura of infallibility that Liverpool from Klopp gives off (somewhat less after his three losses in five games), the distance between both teams in 2010 was quite steeper. The game started with a lot of intensity, it was like a storm. They did not take in marking and everything went cold. Few things happened until the extension, where they scored first. We had Diego (Forln) in a state of grace and he ended up being decisive, remember this newspaper Fran Escrib, then right hand of Quique Snchez Flores.

In the previous one, Quique mand put in the locker room a shocking photo of each player, with a gesture of strength and energy, just above the place where everyone had folded their uniform and boots. It was like an injection of adrenaline, a last push to a squad that was stepping on those heights for the first time, recalls one of the expedition members of that team, “recalls one of the expedition members of that team, who did not he forgets the anecdote after going to the final. “Forln had not yet entered the locker room and everyone started singing the classic 'Uruguayan, Uruguayan!'. So Cabrera (today defender of Espanyol) started dancing like crazy making the joke that the song was for him “.

“Suffer again”

Domnguez was then a 20-year-old boy who poked his head in the elite as central. His back problems forced him to leave football in 2016 and undergo five operations. However, keep in mind that hellish start that I lived in Anfield. They went out in tromba. People stand up on each scanner and on each occasion. At 10 minutes I didn't know where to go. They have to suffer again, but they have the experiences of Mnich or Turn, he predicts.

Because in Anfield, Liverpool is always more Liverpool, if possible. As is the case with the Atlantic in Wanda. Nothing more to knee knee in Madrid, Klopp appealed to the spirit of a stadium whose heartbeat levitates to his. Nevertheless, Scribe relativizes your weight: The public is very above and the sensation of noise is permanent. But the Attic fan is also like that. I don't think the environment is going to be decisive.

The two teams have changed a lot. Rafa's Liverpool (Bentez) was very orderly and disciplined, and played with a tip (Kuyt). Now they are more dynamic and with more goal. Except for that tremendous Steven Gerrard, the rest is much better today, the technician abounds. The market price of the Atlantic, according to the Transfermarkt website, was 210 million, for the 870 of which tonight step on the 'red' mat. In that template there were two children, Agero Y De Gea, who today are, respectively, the highest scoring foreigner in Premier League history and the highest-paid goalkeeper on the islands and almost on the planet.

For this Atlantic, overcoming the tie has more emotional value than economic. Because your budget weighs more the classification for the next Champions (something that this course is more expensive) than stride in Europe, unless it is to achieve the title. Going out of Liverpool will broaden self-esteem of a team in the process of cooking. Perhaps for all this, the former rojiblanco captain Gabi go to the Cerro del Espino de Majadahonda before leaving for Liverpool.

In principle, unless an extension like the one of 2010 is repeated, those of Simeone will know their destination before 22.00, English time. They will have a thousand stories to tell, but, sure, none like the one their compatriot Perna I wrote there one night in the fall of 2008. Maxi Rodrguez silenced Anfield in the first half and, when the victory seemed a fact, a lap of Gerrard in the discount, he left the thing halfway. Perna went like crazy for the referee and let him go: 'The line judge saw him. I asked for forgiveness. He said: 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry! (I'm sorry, I'm sorry!), Reveals an employee of that Atlantic. The team returned home with the anger of the tie, the injustice of a penalty that was not and the fire for the alleged mea fault of the lineman. The next day, the cameras uncovered the conversation: 'I saw it, i saw it! (I saw it, I saw it!) '. I don't know English, I understood that, Perna recognized. That is why in 2010, everyone lived the discount from the tunnel, distrustful. It happened 10 years ago. Today's page may not be much different.

No restrictions

By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, there was confusion about what the set and the final soundtrack of the Anfield stand would be. The expansion of the coronavirus through Europe had made the rumor grow more about a hypothetical match behind closed doors. As happened tonight in Paris or happened yesterday in Valencia. I hope you play with people; It will not be fair for Liverpool not to be able to count on its people, Simeone admits with a serious gesture, despite the fact that the bleachers of the British stadium are one of the pillars that sustains a good part of the enthusiasm of the whole of Klopp. Today, at the last morning meeting, we will talk about the matter again, although it is normal that there is no change in the last hour. There are only rumors, insist yesterday at the last hour from the Attic of Madrid.

The Cholo pee for the first time in his career (both coach and player) a stadium where the Atletico has the last chance to leave a good mark this season. In Turn we couldn't play, the Argentine technician repeats after assuring that, if things get ugly, there is a plan B.

On big nights, as it happened on the way out, he usually hides some trick. And, perhaps, it comes in the form of four midfielders (Koke, Llorente, Thomas and Sal), as has been the norm on special nights like those of Mnich (2016). Morata, who came out touched of the Sevilla game, they enter as if nothing. Between l and Diego Costa is the companion of Joao Flix.