This is a great competition, but in our environment, you have to sell it to people. And it's like trying to sell the Eurovision Song Contest. No matter how hard you try, there will always be people who will condemn it and belittle it and devalue it at every opportunity. Just what do you say when people compare this tournament to the Charity Shield?
We should have been ahead in the first minute, but Robbie sent his shot halfway to Riyadh. Then we looked like we had it in our hands in injury time, when the penalty was provisionally given. It looked like a case for a penalty or a free kick could be made, one of Mane's feet was on the line. Having overturned his decision, what the ref did next was bizarre. If he doesn't give us a free kick, he has to book Mane again. If he gives us a free kick, he has to dismiss the defender. Instead he gives a drop ball. I can't explain that.
It didn't matter in the end, because Robbie finally took his chance, at his third attempt. Our first ever goal in the final brought us our first ever win. We've come a long way from a wretched cup tie against Reading at the start of the decade to the top of the tree at the end. We are now the Best Club Team In The World. So it's ok to wheel this classic out again. Merry Christmas Redmen.
https://youtu.be/kxkDCwImzSI
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