SO RAFAEL Benitez’s wife Montse won’t be getting a new watch from her husband this season after all. But if she has to forego the handsome gift that always accompanies any trophy won by her spouse, then referee Herbert Fandel might find the timepiece which the Reds boss had been keeping on hold for her, is suddenly tossed his way instead. Clearly, the German referee’s own watch was running very fast last night as he followed the announcement that there’d be a minimum of three minutes added time – and then a substitution which should have added a further 30 seconds – by blowing the final whistle just 2 minutes 45 seconds into stoppage time. Benitez was understandably furious at the premature, inexplicable ending to the match as Liverpool sought to write another desperate, late escape story in Athens. But to be fair, he calmed quickly enough to put it to one side, offer his congratulations to AC Milan and stress in his post match comments that his team had been given almost 90 minutes to achieve what they might have hoped to do in those few extra, last-gasp seconds. Benitez did his club proud by losing with dignity and good grace when two years ago, he had beamed with pride and ecstasy after that incredible victory over Milan in Istanbul. The pain of last night’s defeat was etched on his face and told us that here was a born winner, struggling to hide his upset as much for his players, his staff and the Reds’ magnificent, unrivalled travelling supporters, as for himself. Refreshingly, he appeared not for one second as a bad loser, like too many of his so-called peers can frequently seem these days. Benitez was right not to let himself get all het up over a matter of time. Because he and the new board of Liverpool Football Club do not have any of it to lose right now. And in suggesting Liverpool need to take more than one step at a time with their ambitions, he knows so much work in progress is stamped ‘urgent’. This rueful, hardly-deserved defeat must be quickly consigned to the history books. The wounds can be licked only briefly and must not be allowed to fester at Anfield for a second. Perhaps that is already widely understood by fans and the reason why, back in Liverpool city centre as well as in Athens, so many supporters refused to drop their heads or their hearts at the end of this strange game. Last night, on the pitch, Liverpool did the things they needed to do first and foremost, and shackled Kaka as much as he can be shackled. For long periods the Reds looked comfortable in defence and midfield; at times Milan’s play horribly shoddy and lacking belief. They were there for the taking. But a game Liverpool could well have won was lost because they lacked firepower up front and the quality to unlock the Italians.. And because too few Liverpool players had the really good games they needed to deliver on their big night. Quite simply, it was just a shame. A very, very big missed opportunity for everyone. But by no means a damaging disaster. This anguished loss cannot be dwelled upon today because a truly great club which has been on two incredible, if ultimately contrasting European rollercoaster rides in the past three years, needs to get straight down to business. And finally find a way to make some real, serious inroads into that big gap that still exists between Liverpool and those who can lay genuine claim to Premiership title ambitions. There are players to be bade farewell, others who can provide the real quality and bite missing last night, to be quickly acquired as Benitez sees fit. There are plenty of off field issues to address too, including real progress on the new stadium, and the future structure and processes under new American ownership. All of that would have needed immediate energy and effort invested in it, win or lose in Athens last night. This long, arduous journey to real, sustained improvement of the team must not be derailed by this rare defeat at the final hurdle in Europe, however disappointing it is to take. The main reason why? Those incredible supporters, who did all they could yet again to cheer their team to Athens glory, hampered it seemed at every twist and turn by UEFA and then again at the stadium by the Greek police and authorities. Those Liverpool fans could not have been more deserving of the prize on offer to them and their team last night. It would have been wonderful for them to have been given it. But had they been, another trophy they crave most of all, which would signal their side as once again the best in Britain, would still await as a seemingly distant dream. It’s time that ambition was really addressed now that the season is done and new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett can get down to business with Rafa Benitez, Rick Parry and anyone who can finally help to move it forward. There simply isn’t a second to waste. | 
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