There is a glint in Fabio Aurelio’s eye as he recalls the game that could have finished a reign but ended up sparking a dream.
While Istanbul and Cardiff are the places that Liverpudlians will forever associate with stirring comebacks masterminded by Rafa Benitez, Aurelio’s own memory of winning against the odds came in a small corner of Barcelona.
Back in December 2001, Aurelio – then of Valencia – remembers Benitez being under intense pressure, as Los Che had slipped off the pace in the race for La Liga after a stuttering start to the campaign.
Legend has it that Benitez would have been sacked had his team lost a crucial game against Espanyol and when his side trailed by two goals at half-time, it was claimed that Valencia’s press officer was called to start drafting the manager’s departure statement.
Then, though, the situation was turned on its head; a double blast from Francisco Rufete and another from Adrian Ilie, completed a turnaround to give Valencia an irresistible impetus that ultimately propelled them to their first La Liga title in 31 years.
Fast forward to the present day and Aurelio again finds himself in another side that is finding it difficult to match strides with the early pacesetters but he sees no reason why history cannot repeat itself – particularly if Liverpool win at Sunderland tomorrow.
“Before we played Espanyol that night, everyone said Rafa’s job was in danger if we lost,” Aurelio, twice at title winner at the Mestalla, recalled. “We were losing 2-0 at half-time but, by the final whistle, we had turned it around and won 3-2. After that, we put a good run together.
“With six games to go, we were six points behind Real Madrid but by the end we had gone six ahead of them. It’s the same all the time; if you want to get close to the top, you need a game to start it all off.
“In a different way, this could be the month that changes things for us. We are playing Sunderland now and we have to win to keep going in the Premier League, then there are Champions League and Carling Cup games too that must be won, too.
“But all you need is that one win to give you the confidence to go forward for the rest of the season. You just need to get it from somewhere, just like the night Valencia did that in Espanyol. Maybe Sunderland can be the one that does it for us.”
If Liverpool have been unable to build up a head of steam during the opening exchanges, the same is true for Aurelio, given he was ruled out for the first month due to the freak knee injury sustained during a family holiday in his homeland.
He has, though, played in five of the Reds’ last six matches and with Benitez sure to exercise caution with some of those players who have been away on international duty for much of the past fortnight, Aurelio is likely to figure tomorrow.
It should come as no surprise to learn, then, that he is relishing to the trip to the North East; having suffered wretched luck with injuries during his time at Anfield, all Aurelio wants now is the chance to start a sustained number of games.
“I feel ready to play,” said Aurelio, who is eager to impress so he can win a new contract.
“The only thing I need now is more matches. I haven’t played as many 90 minutes as the other players; the more you play, the more fit you feel and this is what I need now. I was carrying a problem from the end of last season. I was carrying on but getting treatment to get through. I then went on holiday and just playing with my brother-in-law and the kids when I felt something strange in the same knee.
“So I contacted the doctors here and after tests they realised that a piece of cartilage had come away, so I had to have arthroscopy to take the piece out that was blocking the joint. Now I feel OK. I haven’t missed too many games and I just want to get going again.”
Sentiments which apply to the squad in general; Melwood was deserted in the aftermath of the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and that was a major frustration for those who had played at Stamford Bridge.
Today, however, normal service was resumed as the remaining international players returned to base and Aurelio is hoping that the squad can get a season-shaping fortnight off to the best possible start on the banks of the Wear.
“It’s always better when you have a full squad, so you can work hard to improve things,” said Aurelio.
“So it’s very different when there are only three or four of you; it hasn’t helped because we know we are facing a very important few weeks.
“When we face the big teams like Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal, it comes down to the small details. If you get them right, it changes the result at the end and we know we have to pay more attention to that if we want to improve.
“We are six points behind Chelsea and Sunderland is a difficult game to have after the break; then we have got United at home, so we know we will either be close (to the top) or much further away. We have to look at every step and focus on it. It‘s important that we win something this year. The team has been working really well and this could be the season that we step forward and get something to show for it. We didn’t start off well but we know we have got the time to improve.”
While Istanbul and Cardiff are the places that Liverpudlians will forever associate with stirring comebacks masterminded by Rafa Benitez, Aurelio’s own memory of winning against the odds came in a small corner of Barcelona.
Back in December 2001, Aurelio – then of Valencia – remembers Benitez being under intense pressure, as Los Che had slipped off the pace in the race for La Liga after a stuttering start to the campaign.
Legend has it that Benitez would have been sacked had his team lost a crucial game against Espanyol and when his side trailed by two goals at half-time, it was claimed that Valencia’s press officer was called to start drafting the manager’s departure statement.
Then, though, the situation was turned on its head; a double blast from Francisco Rufete and another from Adrian Ilie, completed a turnaround to give Valencia an irresistible impetus that ultimately propelled them to their first La Liga title in 31 years.
Fast forward to the present day and Aurelio again finds himself in another side that is finding it difficult to match strides with the early pacesetters but he sees no reason why history cannot repeat itself – particularly if Liverpool win at Sunderland tomorrow.
“Before we played Espanyol that night, everyone said Rafa’s job was in danger if we lost,” Aurelio, twice at title winner at the Mestalla, recalled. “We were losing 2-0 at half-time but, by the final whistle, we had turned it around and won 3-2. After that, we put a good run together.
“With six games to go, we were six points behind Real Madrid but by the end we had gone six ahead of them. It’s the same all the time; if you want to get close to the top, you need a game to start it all off.
“In a different way, this could be the month that changes things for us. We are playing Sunderland now and we have to win to keep going in the Premier League, then there are Champions League and Carling Cup games too that must be won, too.
“But all you need is that one win to give you the confidence to go forward for the rest of the season. You just need to get it from somewhere, just like the night Valencia did that in Espanyol. Maybe Sunderland can be the one that does it for us.”
If Liverpool have been unable to build up a head of steam during the opening exchanges, the same is true for Aurelio, given he was ruled out for the first month due to the freak knee injury sustained during a family holiday in his homeland.
He has, though, played in five of the Reds’ last six matches and with Benitez sure to exercise caution with some of those players who have been away on international duty for much of the past fortnight, Aurelio is likely to figure tomorrow.
It should come as no surprise to learn, then, that he is relishing to the trip to the North East; having suffered wretched luck with injuries during his time at Anfield, all Aurelio wants now is the chance to start a sustained number of games.
“I feel ready to play,” said Aurelio, who is eager to impress so he can win a new contract.
“The only thing I need now is more matches. I haven’t played as many 90 minutes as the other players; the more you play, the more fit you feel and this is what I need now. I was carrying a problem from the end of last season. I was carrying on but getting treatment to get through. I then went on holiday and just playing with my brother-in-law and the kids when I felt something strange in the same knee.
“So I contacted the doctors here and after tests they realised that a piece of cartilage had come away, so I had to have arthroscopy to take the piece out that was blocking the joint. Now I feel OK. I haven’t missed too many games and I just want to get going again.”
Sentiments which apply to the squad in general; Melwood was deserted in the aftermath of the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and that was a major frustration for those who had played at Stamford Bridge.
Today, however, normal service was resumed as the remaining international players returned to base and Aurelio is hoping that the squad can get a season-shaping fortnight off to the best possible start on the banks of the Wear.
“It’s always better when you have a full squad, so you can work hard to improve things,” said Aurelio.
“So it’s very different when there are only three or four of you; it hasn’t helped because we know we are facing a very important few weeks.
“When we face the big teams like Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal, it comes down to the small details. If you get them right, it changes the result at the end and we know we have to pay more attention to that if we want to improve.
“We are six points behind Chelsea and Sunderland is a difficult game to have after the break; then we have got United at home, so we know we will either be close (to the top) or much further away. We have to look at every step and focus on it. It‘s important that we win something this year. The team has been working really well and this could be the season that we step forward and get something to show for it. We didn’t start off well but we know we have got the time to improve.”
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