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Glory boys with a lesson for Liverpool on how to handle title pressure Glory boys with a lesson for Liverpool on how to handle title pressure
(35 minutes later)
Perry Groves, Arsenal 1989Perry Groves, Arsenal 1989
The pressure is that you realise you are one game away from having an indelible mark on your club's history. We were a little bit fed up of always hearing about the Double-winning Arsenal team of 1971. Every subsequent team was always compared to them. We hadn't obviously won the title in a long time and we thought it was our chance for teams to hopefully start being compared to us: the great 1989 team.The pressure is that you realise you are one game away from having an indelible mark on your club's history. We were a little bit fed up of always hearing about the Double-winning Arsenal team of 1971. Every subsequent team was always compared to them. We hadn't obviously won the title in a long time and we thought it was our chance for teams to hopefully start being compared to us: the great 1989 team.
We went to Anfield [in the final match] but we didn't have fear because no one expected us to beat Liverpool by two clear goals. You have a collective belief, you look around the dressing room and you know you have strong characters there.We went to Anfield [in the final match] but we didn't have fear because no one expected us to beat Liverpool by two clear goals. You have a collective belief, you look around the dressing room and you know you have strong characters there.
Players will say that they don't talk about titles, about being part of that, but you do. You always say: "Wouldn't it be great if we could be a part of this club's history and be talked about in years to come?"Players will say that they don't talk about titles, about being part of that, but you do. You always say: "Wouldn't it be great if we could be a part of this club's history and be talked about in years to come?"
There's a trust in what you've been doing all season, there's a trust in your manager. Never once did we see George Graham look like he was panicking or look like he didn't have any answers or was worried. He always had total confidence.There's a trust in what you've been doing all season, there's a trust in your manager. Never once did we see George Graham look like he was panicking or look like he didn't have any answers or was worried. He always had total confidence.
Players like Luis Suárez and Steven Gerrard – they can handle the pressure, they have played in big games. But the way Liverpool play they'll also have total confidence in their manager Brendan Rodgers and what his philosophy is. Players like Luis Suárez and Steven Gerrard – they can handle the pressure, they have played in big games but the way Liverpool play they'll also have total confidence in their manager Brendan Rodgers and what his philosophy is.
Chris Whyte, Leeds United 1992Chris Whyte, Leeds United 1992
There was definitely pressure because of the 18 years since our last title but it was nice pressure because we knew, or I knew, that for a club of Leeds's size, as big as they are, not winning anything for that long meant the stakes were high. I found it exciting, a challenge, so the way I am, I looked forward to it, I was thriving on it. I could not wait until three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon or quarter to eight on a Tuesday night to get on that pitch. There was definitely pressure because of the 18 years since our last title but it was nice pressure because we knew, or I knew, that for a club of Leeds' size, as big as they are, not winning anything for that long meant the stakes were high. I found it exciting, a challenge, so the way I am, I looked forward to it, I was thriving on it. I could not wait until three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon or quarter to eight on a Tuesday night to get on that pitch.
Despite only being promoted the season before we really had massive belief. You've got to give Howard Wilkinson [the manager] a lot of credit because of the players he brought in. I wasn't with them when they came up and that season he signed John Lukic, Gary McAllister and myself and Howard got us playing winning football. Despite only being promoted the season before we really had massive belief. You've got to give Howard Wilkinson [the manager] a lot of credit because of the players he brought in. I wasn't with them when they came up and that season he signed John Lukic, Gary McAllister and myself. He got us playing winning football.
I know for a fact that those Liverpool players cannot wait to get to this game on Sunday, because they'll be going on that pitch knowing that if they beat City then it's another step closer. It's getting so close to the end of the season that they really will believe the title is theirs.I know for a fact that those Liverpool players cannot wait to get to this game on Sunday, because they'll be going on that pitch knowing that if they beat City then it's another step closer. It's getting so close to the end of the season that they really will believe the title is theirs.
It might sound simple to say but the best teams have a bit of everything. We had flair, pace, aggression, team spirit. Players playing to their best and knowing that you're playing with the same players week in, week out. It's just fantastic memories.It might sound simple to say but the best teams have a bit of everything. We had flair, pace, aggression, team spirit. Players playing to their best and knowing that you're playing with the same players week in, week out. It's just fantastic memories.
Gary Pallister, Manchester United 1993Gary Pallister, Manchester United 1993
We got accused of bottling it the previous season [when Leeds won the title] which was ridiculous given that we had to play four games in seven days and already had injury problems anyway. So that was the kind of rubbish we had to deal with, I guess. But we took confidence from that because we felt we were the better team the season before anyway.We got accused of bottling it the previous season [when Leeds won the title] which was ridiculous given that we had to play four games in seven days and already had injury problems anyway. So that was the kind of rubbish we had to deal with, I guess. But we took confidence from that because we felt we were the better team the season before anyway.
So we took that into the following one. Obviously we added Eric Cantona as well and I think, as people have said, he was final piece of the jigsaw for that team. It does get tougher as you get closer to the line because you are aware of the pressure that's put on you after so long without a title. But there was a strong belief in the dressing room, certainly, that we could do it. So we took that into the following one. Obviously we added Eric Cantona as well and I think, as people have said, he was final piece of the jigsaw for that team. It does get tougher as you get closer to the line because you are aware of the pressure that's put on you after so long without a title but there was a strong belief in the dressing room, certainly, that we could do it.
The title was the holy grail at the time for United – and I realised that everybody was waiting to see how the team would cope and to see whether we could get over the finish line. In that last part of the season, you are looking at fixture lists, looking at the teams who are vying for the league – who they play. You start talking between yourselves about how many points they are liable to get from their remaining games and how many points are you liable to get. Its all part of the thrill of being involved in it. The title was the holy grail at the time for United – and I realised that everybody was waiting to see how the team would cope and to see whether we could get over the finish line. In that last part of the season, you are looking at fixture lists, looking at the teams who are vying for the league – who they play. You start talking between yourselves about how many points they are liable to get from their remaining games and how many points you are liable to get. Its all part of the thrill of being involved in it.
We certainly felt the tension of the games, the crowd felt the tension too, and it was quite a close run-in that season with Aston Villa, though they fell away in the last two or three games.We certainly felt the tension of the games, the crowd felt the tension too, and it was quite a close run-in that season with Aston Villa, though they fell away in the last two or three games.
It had been 26 years since United had last won the title so that was forever being rammed down our throats. I remember walking out to play Blackburn on the night we got the trophy: it was the most unbelievable feeling being involved, to feel all the mixture of emotions coming out with the fans. The happiness, the relief, the excitement. It was one of the best nights, if not the best night I can remember at Old Trafford.It had been 26 years since United had last won the title so that was forever being rammed down our throats. I remember walking out to play Blackburn on the night we got the trophy: it was the most unbelievable feeling being involved, to feel all the mixture of emotions coming out with the fans. The happiness, the relief, the excitement. It was one of the best nights, if not the best night I can remember at Old Trafford.
Stuart Ripley, Blackburn Rovers 1995Stuart Ripley, Blackburn Rovers 1995
I think for Liverpool the pressure is because they haven't won it for a long time, it might weigh heavier on them. But the great players, the [Alan] Shearers of this world, the Gerrards: they are the ones who can control and conquer their nerves. I don't see Steven Gerrard being overwhelmed by it that's for sure. The pressure can also depend on the club that you play for. If it's a Chelsea, or a Manchester United, you know there's a fair chance you're going to get another shot at it. Playing for a smaller club, the likes of Blackburn, those chances come along once in a lifetime, if that.I think for Liverpool the pressure is because they haven't won it for a long time, it might weigh heavier on them. But the great players, the [Alan] Shearers of this world, the Gerrards: they are the ones who can control and conquer their nerves. I don't see Steven Gerrard being overwhelmed by it that's for sure. The pressure can also depend on the club that you play for. If it's a Chelsea, or a Manchester United, you know there's a fair chance you're going to get another shot at it. Playing for a smaller club, the likes of Blackburn, those chances come along once in a lifetime, if that.
It also depends on your position – it's easier to chase than be chased. The closer you get to the finishing line the difference between a desire to win and the fear to lose, the line gets more and more blurred. Footballers are human beings and you wouldn't be human if you didn't suffer from some sort of nerves. It's about how you deal with them, really.It also depends on your position – it's easier to chase than be chased. The closer you get to the finishing line the difference between a desire to win and the fear to lose, the line gets more and more blurred. Footballers are human beings and you wouldn't be human if you didn't suffer from some sort of nerves. It's about how you deal with them, really.
I remember the night before we played Liverpool at Anfield in the final game of the season, I was rooming with Henning Berg and neither of us slept a wink. We were both nervous and I'm sure all the other lads were. Looking back, we didn't perform on that day [losing 2-1]. We were quite fortunate that Manchester United didn't take advantage [they could only draw 1-1 at West Ham United].I remember the night before we played Liverpool at Anfield in the final game of the season, I was rooming with Henning Berg and neither of us slept a wink. We were both nervous and I'm sure all the other lads were. Looking back, we didn't perform on that day [losing 2-1]. We were quite fortunate that Manchester United didn't take advantage [they could only draw 1-1 at West Ham United].
The game at Liverpool was really bizarre. We obviously went in front after about 20 minutes and I thought that we'd settle down but we didn't. I remember playing against John Barnes and he was saying: "What's wrong with you guys? Get yourself going." Because the Liverpool fans didn't particularly want United to win the trophy. The game at Liverpool was really bizarre. We went in front after about 20 minutes and I thought that we'd settle down but we didn't. I remember playing against John Barnes and he was saying: "What's wrong with you guys? Get yourself going." Because the Liverpool fans didn't particularly want United to win the trophy.
I still don't know what happened at the end of the match. Jamie Redknapp put one in the top corner [to make it 2-1]. In the space of seconds, we thought: 'Right we're doomed, we've blown it' then people were running on the pitch and up and down. There's the famous pictures of Kenny [Dalglish, the manager] when he's realised that we've won it. It was just a bizarre experience, going from doom and gloom to joy in 10 seconds. It's the old cliché, the season's run over 42 games. We'd done enough to fall over the line but it was a nerve-racking experience, I can tell you that. I still don't know what happened at the end of the match. Jamie Redknapp put one in the top corner [to make it 2-1]. In the space of seconds, we thought: 'Right we're doomed, we've blown it', then people were running on the pitch and up and down. There's the famous pictures of Kenny [Dalglish, the manager] when he's realised that we've won it. It was just a bizarre experience, going from doom and gloom to joy in 10 seconds. It's the old cliche, the season's run over 42 games. We'd done enough to fall over the line but it was a nerve-racking experience, I can tell you that.