Champions League Intensity: How Mo Salah's Injury made Liverpool FC lose the league in 2018
Different competitions have their own level of intensity. Players feel differently for different games and same is applicable to spectators or viewers. The way I feel when playing or watching street games in my locality is very different from the way I feel when watching the Premier League. Similarly, the feeling I have for Champions League is more intensed than that of the Premier League other club leagues. So, I feel the more competitive a tournament is, the more intensity and weight it carries. I could be wrong though!
The UEFA Champions League is the biggest, most sort after trophy and most competitive tournament in Europe. Whenever it is being played, the atmosphere of the game is usually full of tension. You see that teams prepare more these games because whoever you are being merged with to play is a champion in its local league. There are no rooms for taking chances; coaches go with their best boys for the game. Interestingly, any team can win anyone and we have seen a lot of surprises in each champions league season.
In 2019, Liverpool FC emerged as Champions of the league after defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the finals by two goals to nil. Liverpool FC couldn't have afforded to miss the title that year because in 2018, they got to the finals but lost to Real Madrid following a controversial Mo Salah's hand injury.
Injuries have a way of affecting any football or other sport teams especially when it affects the team's important players. This is so because their space will be empty and it becomes difficult to replace them. So, it is also important that clubs provide replacement for position to cater for cases of injuries. So, when Mohammed Salah got injured by Sergio Ramos, it affected the Liverpool squad and no one then could perform as he could. The frontline was no more threatening as Sadio Mane only attacked.
But in 2020, Bayern Munich won the Champions League after series of thrashing they gave to various clubs. As I write, the 2020/2021 champions season is underway. It began on October 20th and the first leg round just ended on 21st October. Many games were being played but I'll just highlight a few surprising displays and results.
First was the game between Paris St Germain and Manchester United. The away side were being seen as the underdogs while the French team, PSG were tipped favourite to win. Betting sites gave Manchester United above 5 points odds for winning while PSG had a winning odd of 1.59. So, it appeared almost impossible for Manchester United to win.
However, things turned out the other way round. Manchester United ended up winning the game with two goals to one and the PSG lone goal was an own goal scored by Anthony Martial. The first goal was scored by Bruno Fernandes from a penalty kick while the second was scored by Marcus Rashford.
It was a very interesting game and the game proved to all the Bible quote, "pride goes before a fall". Who do you think will lift the trophy this year?