milan's guard of honour

[Herbie von Smalls]

one of the more positive aspects of wednesday night's defeat for me was milan's reaction to having beaten us. from ancelotti's comment about this being their best ever european cup final victory (which was largely down to their domestic problems, but made all the sweeter because of whom they beat), to their players' views on us and our fans, milan spoke in terms of us being true european heavyweights.

 

when i saw their 'guard of honour' as our team went up to collect their medals i felt like we were being honoured for the magnificence of our victory in istanbul, for our history as one of the most successful sides in the competition's history, but more importantly that it's an achievement for any club to knock us out of the competition.

 

i doubt that chelsea, man utd or arsenal would've garnered a tribute coming anywhere close to that.

 

for me it illustrated that there is such a thing as a 'glorious defeat'. in european terms we command the respect that our history merits and no other english club has anything approaching such a monolithic status. wednesday night cemented that and our fans' magnamity in defeat has contributed significantly.

 

i hate that we lost the final, but love that our reputation as a european force has been enhanced even in defeat.

[jimmylibel]

I was in Athens so haven't really heard the Milan reaction post match. What did they say about us and our fans if you don't mind me asking Herbie?

[Zoob]

Milan were gracious in victory, not that I watched much of it after the match...

 

Just found the following here not sure if it's true, but either way, it makes me feel a bit sick.

 

INZAGHI: "And the striker revealed his first goal, with a deflection from Andrea Pirlo's free-kick was a rehearsed move.

"I managed to do it against Empoli in the derby last year," he said. "Every now and again we manage to pull it off. We rehearse it with the manager.

Is he suggesting that they rehearse a move whereby Inzaghi diverts the ball into the net using his arm?

[Herbie von Smalls]

I was in Athens so haven't really heard the Milan reaction post match. What did they say about us and our fans if you don't mind me asking Herbie?

don't have anything to hand for you jimmy, but maldini and gattuso sang the praises of our fans both in istanbul and athens.

[Coyler]

In fairness Milan did say that when they knocked out United they had knocked out the best team in the competition. If they had have beaten them in the final after being slightly outplayed they might possibly have given them a clap as well.

[Herbie von Smalls]

In fairness Milan did say that when they knocked out United they had knocked out the best team in the competition. If they had have beaten them in the final after being slightly outplayed they might possibly have given them a clap as well.

acknowledged. i'm not sure they'd have been so effusive though, and i reckon the guard of honour for us was, in part, motivated by the outcome of the last final. i don't recall utd fans being singled out for praise either.

[jimmylibel]

don't have anything to hand for you jimmy, but maldini and gattuso sang the praises of our fans both in istanbul and athens.

 

Interesting. Thanks.

[floyd]

When in the San Siro at the AC Milan - Real Madrid European Cup Semi-Final on the Wednesday after Hillsborough? The referee blew his whistle 6 minutes into the game to stop play and hold a minute's silence. About 20 seconds into the silence the Milan fans on the Curva Sud as one started singing YNWA.

Sticks in my mind, whenever we play them

[MindGuerrillas]

when i saw their 'guard of honour' as our team went up to collect their medals i felt like we were being honoured for the magnificence of our victory in istanbul, for our history as one of the most successful sides in the competition's history, but more importantly that it's an achievement for any club to knock us out of the competition.

 

i doubt that chelsea, man utd or arsenal would've garnered a tribute coming anywhere close to that.

 

I think that this guard of honour thing is a new UEFA initiative. They did the same thing at the UEFA Cup final and will probably look to do it at all finals from now on.

[Guest Bernie]

It was slightly incongruous but amusing seeing the defeated players walking through the guard of honour ... and then seeing Gillett hi-fiving his way down the aisle.