Third time unlucky for Carragher's Reds
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Article summary
Jamie Carragher said "now we know how it feels" after Liverpool FC's run of two semi-final triumphs against Chelsea FC ended in a 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
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'Tough'
After being on the winning side in semi-finals against the London club in both 2005 and 2007, Carragher experienced the pain of defeat for the first time as his side lost 3-2 on the night to bow out 4-3 on aggregate. "We realised it was going to be tough and we are disappointed, but Chelsea have been in that position and now we know how it feels," he said. "We wish them luck for the final. We've been there ourselves. We're disappointed but now we've just got to accept it."
Bitter pill
It was a bitter bill to swallow for the 30-year-old, who was part of the Liverpool side that famously recovered from going 3-0 down to defeat AC Milan on penalties in the 2005 final. Again Liverpool were forced to come from behind here, Fernando Torres pulling them level after Didier Drogba had given Chelsea a first-half lead. A Frank Lampard penalty in extra-time followed by another Drogba strike swung the tie Chelsea's way and though Ryan Babel hit-back late on, this time there was to be no way back for Rafael Benítez's men.
Pride
"We're out, there's no point moaning about it, we've just got to move on," Carragher said. "We realised we had to do something about it. The first half we didn't play particularly well but from the second half onwards and the extra-time we came out with a lot of credit. Chelsea won and the result is always the main thing but we've got to be proud of the way we reacted and the way we performed and hope that that bodes well for the future."
'Big disappointment'
Liverpool have much to be proud of already after reaching three semi-finals, and two finals, in Benítez's four-year tenure. Missing the chance to play arch-rivals Manchester United FC in the final, though, makes defeat particularly hard to take. "It would have been a great final but I'm sure Chelsea v Man United will be a great final too," Carragher said. "But it's not so much playing United, it's about getting to the Champions League final which is a fantastic achievement. The first final between two English clubs would have been great to have been involved in so that's a big disappointment."
