Liverpool, Real Madrid and likable doyens of the modern game | Soccer

IT’S BIG CUP FINAL, BABY

After a season that has become more extraordinary with every passing week, it all comes down to this. Two teams fuelled by a sense of destiny, competing for a huge prize at a gleaming modern football cathedral; it’s just a shame somebody has to lose. And yet, when The Fiver submitted its 3,000-word opus on the League Two playoff final to The Man, it was sent back to us in a thousand pieces, the confetti arranged on what passes for a desk to spell two words: BIG CUP.

And if that opening gambit was more telegraphed than a $tevie Mbe Hollywood pass, Saturday night’s showdown in Paris promises to be far less predictable. Liverpool will start as favourites, but Real Madrid have shown they can destroy a carefully-built Big Cup project in 90 seconds, let alone 90 minutes. After increasingly dramatic late comebacks against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City, we’re expecting Karim Benzema to pop up with a late winner halfway through Liverpool’s trophy parade.

So if you’re the sort of fan who likes to post your chosen team’s number of “UCLs” across all available Social Media Disgraces, as if you somehow contributed in any meaningful way, here are some patented Fiver analytics for you. Liverpool can move to seven Big Cups, moving them level with Milan – but, more importantly, spoiling the flow of that dreary “we’ve won it [x] times” chant. Madrid have, of course, won 13 – not that they like to talk about it. That’s right, The Fiver is poking fun at teams for winning too many Big Cups. But what else is there?

Both teams have earned their place, and both are coached by likable doyens of the modern game. Carlo Ancelotti’s in-game tactical tweaks may amount to a chat with Luka Modric and a theatrical raise of the eyebrow – but hey, it works. As for Jürgen Klopp, he remains the Big Cup-winning manager most likely to keep spirits up on a team-building weekend – closely followed by Roberto Di Matteo. To the naysayers who might point out that this is just a repeat of the 2018 showpiece, and that six of the last nine Big Cup finals have featured at least one of these clubs – fair point. But then again, one of these teams lost at home to Sheriff Tiraspol in the groups; the other qualified thanks to a last-gasp headed equaliser against West Brom. By their goalie. Hard luck, Mansfield and Port Vale – this is the true underdog story of the weekend.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“There were a lot of dark days and there will be in the future but I felt ready to be able to lead my staff and my players” – Vale manager Darrell Clarke on returning after a close family bereavement this year, as he prepares to lead them to Wembley on Saturday.

FIVER LETTERS

“Within hours of you graciously printing my letter in yesterday’s Fiver, Soccer Canada cancelled their friendly against Iran. I knew you were a global power in the football world, but…