Dudek

[Cunny]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html

 

Dudek: Post Istanbul axe hard to take

 

Jul 21 2007

 

by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

 

 

FORMER Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek admitted that life at Anfield was never going to be the same for him after Rafael Benitez axed him despite his Champions League heroics.

 

While his former team-mates were defeating French side Auxerre 2-0 in Switzerland yesterday thanks to goals from Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger, Polish international Dudek, was being officially revealed as a Real Madrid player.

 

Dudek, 34, was Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out hero in the Champions League final in Istanbul where his spot-kick saves against Milan handed the club their fifth European Cup triumph.

 

However, his ‘reward’ for completing arguably the most spectacular comeback victory in a major football final was to be instantly benched the following season as Benitez brought in fellow Spaniard Pepe Reina as his new number one.

 

Dudek said: “It’s hard to accept the coach’s decision of benching you after you play the best game of your life.

 

“I have been a positive and very professional player throughout my career.

 

“I was very professional during my last 18 months at Liverpool. I hope everyone was happy with my behaviour.

 

“It is always difficult for a player not to play, but I was never ashamed of being second to Reina.

 

“Pepe was a very good keeper. I never thought to myself ‘Why am I on the bench? I’m better than Pepe. It was never like that at all. Reina performed very well in every game in England and I think he deserved it. He may have been the type of keeper Benitez wanted.”

 

Dudek revealed that the decision to join Real Madrid – where he is expected to be understudy to Spanish number one Iker Casillas – was always an easy one, considering the advice he was given by Liverpool’s Spanish connection.

 

He said: “To be honest, it was a very easy decision to make because all the Spanish friends I made in Liverpool told me I couldn’t refuse joining Real Madrid. I was very happy with the fact that people here wanted me.

 

“When I heard Real Madrid was interested in me I went straight to talk to Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach, Jose Manuel Ochotorena, who used to play for Real Madrid and was born here.

 

“He knows a lot about the club. He told me: ‘Jerzy don’t wait. It is fantastic club to play for. I know you can do it.’”

 

Meanwhile, Benitez has praised the unlikely second-half star of Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Auxerre.

 

Moroccan youngster Nabil El Zhar impressed his manager during the final half an hour and Benitez was pleased with how the midfielder brought was a drab encounter into life.

 

He said: “It was a strange game in many ways because we didn’t play to our normal level yet we managed to score two good goals, we have no injury problems and we kept a clean sheet, which is always good.

 

“I thought El Zhar did a good job when he came on in the second half. Nabil is a player with pace and ability who wants to do well.

 

“He gave us fresh legs and I told him to try and change the game for us because everyone was feeling tired. I told him to try different things and try to score.”

[Woodsyla]

"Dudek said: “It’s hard to accept the coach’s decision of benching you after you play the best game of your life."

 

This is the problem Jerzy, I counted at least 4 f***ups in that game that could have cost us the match in normal time and a couple in extra time as well. It was a great save, it was a great display in the penalty shootout but if you truly think that you played the best game of your life then it's no wonder you were moved on.

[Swagger]

Easy to understand Dudek. Being dropped after such a massive game is a heck of a blow. But from Rafa's point of view, and the club's, if you have the chance to bring in a player who is a lot better than the one you have, then you obviously should. And Pepe is by far a better 'keeper.

 

Good luck, Jerzy. Your place in the history of this great club is cemented.

[SMD]

Dudek's first half performance was shocking and his level dropped a lot from the 01/02 season. Maybe it's this arrogance that didn't see him maintain the heights of his debut season.

 

Shame really, he was possibly the best in the world.

[fyds]

Nothing but respect for the guy - like the way he praises Reina too and admits he may just be more the keeper suited to Benitez.

[honourablegeorge]

Good luck to the lad - although moving to Real Madrid's not going to cure that a*** splinters problem he's been having.

[Guest Finnan3]

Hasn't said too much wrong in that article.

[Guz]

Shame he had such a drop in form after a great first season. Such is life though.

 

A club legend for me.

[AE]

A club legend for me.

 

Good keeper,

great save.

Not a legend.

Otherwise we would have to ****ing many of them ;-)

 

Grobbs = possibly

Clemence - Yes

The flying pig - probably

That mate of SG's - probably.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Good keeper,

great save.

Not a legend.

Otherwise we would have to ****ing many of them ;-)

 

Grobbs = possibly

Clemence - Yes

The flying pig - probably

That mate of SG's - probably.

 

 

I think he deserves his title of legend - he was touched by God to make that save.

[Cunny]

he's no Bob Boulder

[Guz]

Good keeper,

great save.

Not a legend.

Otherwise we would have to ****ing many of them ;-)

 

Grobbs = possibly

Clemence - Yes

The flying pig - probably

That mate of SG's - probably.

 

I said he's a club legend for me. I'm only 20. I'll never forget Jerzy nodding his head after his double save from Shevchenko.

 

Either way it doesn't really matter what else we go on to achieve for quite a few years - Dudek will always be remembered and talked about for that one night alone. Even if he isn't a legend he has his own little place in the club's history.

[Kahnee]

I think he deserves his title of legend - he was touched by God to make that save.

 

Was he f***. It was a great reflex save for which Dudek was solely responsible

[McBain]

He had one good season in 6 years. Though it was a fantastic season

 

Thanks for the memories Jerzy but the decision was the right one by Rafa. The only surprise were the stories floating round we were trying to get him to sign a new deal

Edited July 23, 2007 by Mcbain

[Billy Dane]

Also remember his MOM display against the Mancs when we beat them 2-0 in Cardiff. Jerzy has had some great games/moments for us and for "that" save alone will retain a big place in our history.

 

Good luck to him, hope he gets some games for Madrid.

[sutty]

He wasn't very good in the Istanbul game except the penalties and the Sheva save.

[Billy Dane]

Kept out Shev'a free kick at the beginning of the 2nd half as well, wouldn't have been a come back if that had gone in.

[sutty]

Kept out Shev'a free kick at the beginning of the 2nd half as well, wouldn't have been a come back if that had gone in.

Rego save.

[charlie clown]

doesn't really matter, any of it, does it? He played his part in the best night we've had for 20-odd years, loved the club, stayed loyal when it went against him. If he wasn't the best that can't be changed now. Thanks for (some of) the memories big man.

[sutty]

doesn't really matter, any of it, does it? He played his part in the best night we've had for 20-odd years, loved the club, stayed loyal when it went against him. If he wasn't the best that can't be changed now. Thanks for (some of) the memories big man.

Absolutely.

 

His statement re the game of his life is an odd one.

 

He made the save of his life alright.

[_00_deathscar]

Rego save.

 

Not at all - it was as well hit a free kick as I've seen, and he clearly saw it late.

[johngibo YPC]

Absolutely.

 

His statement re the game of his life is an odd one.

 

He made the save of his life alright.

 

I wouldn't say it was the best game he has ever played.

Maybe he just meant it was the game of his life or something.

Anyway, best of luck Jersy lad

[sutty]

Not at all - it was as well hit a free kick as I've seen, and he clearly saw it late.

 

It was at a very saveable height on his side of the goal.

 

If he'd have let that in there would have rightly been a s*** load of questions asked, no matter how hard it was hit.

[Guest Linton]

I wonder what happened to Dudek. I think in his first season for us he was one of the best if not THE best keeper in Europe. What happened?

[smicer07]

The save from the free kick was a brilliant save.