Liverpool vs Tottenham: The Hamann effect and who the Red’s Champions League final game changers could be
By Josh Coyne
In 2005 German midfielder Didi Hamann changed the course of the Champions League final and helped deliver victory to Liverpool. Here we look through who could do the same thing 14 years later.
The feeling toward Hamann around Anfield will probably never sour. Over thirteen years after departing the club, the 45-year-old German can be spotted at a number of club-run events and spends a considerable amount of his time in the city, due to the effect it had on his illustrious career.
He is highly regarded by the fans and has been fully embraced over the years, in the borderline-familial fashion that has become commonplace.
His career was littered with a gallery of major moments, but no low, driven wonder-strike can compete with that Istanbul night back in 2005.
Is the night when many fans believe his half-time introduction changed the outcome completely as they shattered all expectation to bring their fifth European Cup home.
A pivotal night in Hamann’s career, but it could have been so different. Speaking to Bleacher Report in 2015, the Waldsassen native recalled his frustration upon being summoned to the subs bench on the biggest occasion in club football.
"“There had been no indication that I wasn’t going to start,” Hamann revealed. “I’d had a medial ligament injury a few months earlier, but I’d played against Chelsea in the semi-final and a few games thereafter, so there were no issues on that front. “As a player, you have a pretty good idea of whether you are going to play at any given game, and I was pretty confident I was going to start the final. It was a surprise that I didn’t.”"
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It was a tough call to make but Hamann was left out, with Rafael Benitez opting for more creative flair and pairing Xabi Alonso with Steven Gerrard in central midfield.
It’s every player’s dream to compete on occasions like the Champions League final but Hamann tried his best to understand – he was only selected behind two of the most gifted midfielder’s in the club’s history after all.
"“Rafa didn’t explain his decision to me, but he didn’t need to. He can only pick 11 players. I wasn’t one of the 11 he selected for the game, and that’s just the way it was. There is nothing to explain really – he obviously wanted to include Harry Kewell, a player who could make a difference, and that was probably the reason. “I was disappointed, but at the same time, I had to stay focused because if someone got injured in the warm-up or early in the game, then I’d have to be in the right state of mind to come on.”"
The game itself has been exhaustively documented. The jarring first half ended with Liverpool trailing by three goals behind one of Italy’s truly great sides. Ancelotti and his trademark raised eyebrow walked down the tunnel brimming with elation, while Benitez’s men huffed and puffed behind them, facing the creeping reality of a complete potential embarrassment in the biggest game of their careers. Then a huge decision was made.
"“We walked into the dressing room, and the lads were down and heads were bowed, but Rafa was always the same. He was probably the only one in that room who still believed we could turn it around.”"
Rafa then went through how he wanted Steve Finnan to come off, Gerrard to play higher up the field and Hamman to come on at the break.
The rest is history.
The adjustment brought to light the worth of versatility and depth for a team that wishes to prosper at the highest level. The decision to bring in Hamann and pair him with Alonso in midfielder added stability to the middle of the park, thus removing the shackles from Gerrard, whose header won Liverpool their first lifeline and ventures into the box won the equalizing penalty.
Benitez made the right call and Hamann did his job, helping to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks in European football history. Sometimes when things aren’t going to plan, substitutes or positional adjustments can make or break a team’s chances of success.
With a matter of days between now and the 2019 final in Madrid, it’s worth consider the game-changing options at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, should they be needed.
Of course, much of this depends on who starts on the bench and with the manager’s attitude toward squad rotation this year, you never really know who will emerge from the tunnel on Saturday night – especially in the midfield three. Any unexpected issues aside, there are some more likely options, should the reds have to avert to ‘plan b’.