Van Bronckhorst’s incredible Champions League re-write

Following his first season in management Steven Gerrard revealed that if games lasted 86 minutes he’d have won the league rather than watch Celtic rack up their eighth successive title.

As every player and fan knows the game lasts for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. While Gerrard’s side wilted in the closing minutes Scott Brown won the league with a late winner at Rugby Park with Odsonne Edouard doing likewise at Tynecastle and Dens Park.

Someone once said that when the going gets tough the tough get going but speaking to The Sun Gerrard explained:

Having analysed last season, if the games had finished after 86 minutes we’d have won the league. That’s the brutal truth.

So we have to be better in our game management and when we get ourselves in a decent position we have to find a way to get over the line.

Knowing that a defeat tomorrow night from Ajax will make his side the worst ever to ‘compete’ in the Champions League Giovanni van Bronckhorst has sight similar comfort.

Five defeats with a goal difference of 1-19 is impossible to argue with but not if you are a Dutchman clutching at straws.

Looking at tomorrow’s match The Sun reports van Bronckhorst saying:

We have performed well for 60/65 minutes at home against Napoli and Liverpool but we need to find our level for 90 minutes in the Champions League.

The level is so competitive at this level. We know we can be strong at home in Europe, we have to really work hard for it. A good performance will bring us much closer to a positive result.

No prizes are handed out after 86 minutes, or 60 minutes.