“We would introduce Dietmar Hamann for Steve Finnan. The German was detailed to hold the midfield together, allowing Steven Gerrard to make the bursts into the penalty area.”
As half time substitutions go, the move made by Rafa Benitez in Istanbul in 2005 (as detailed above, from his ‘Champions League Dreams’ book) must be one of the greatest ever. Gerrard scored and won a penalty by charging into the box while Hamann ensured Milan were no longer cutting through the heart of the Reds’ side.
It was a better impact than Benitez could have realistically expected and most managers who make a switch at the interval are almost making an admission of guilt. If their starting XI needs amending so early, chances are it wasn’t the correct side to have selected in the first place.
