"But then...football is a squad game, and not every player is going to be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. As such there have been more than a few players who have stepped out in a Champions League final whose inclusion now looks odd in retrospect - or even, in a few cases, seemed a little strange even at the time."
"In truth, Rafa Benitez's incredible comeback kings were quite some way off being a great side. The Spaniard had only taken charge the previous summer, after all, and their transfer business could only extend so far. That meant Liverpool were left with something of a transitional squad of players left over from the Gerard Houllier era and players signed as stopgaps."
The Champions League final represents the pinnacle of European football where star players often dominate the spotlight. Several final lineups feature selections that seem odd in retrospect, including surprising picks like Djimi Traore. Liverpool under Rafa Benitez in the early 2000s retained transitional players from the Gerard Houllier era and stopgap signings, leading to questionable bench depth and starting choices. Tactical decisions saw John-Arne Riise deployed on the left wing and a half-time switch to a back three with Dietmar Hamann replacing Steve Finnan after injury. Jose Mourinho's Porto 2003/04 achieved a shock victory, driven by key performances such as Benni McCarthy's brace.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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