Apocalypse soon but Benitez digging in

IN January 2003, Gerard Houllier invented the ‘blip’. With incredible nonchalance (it’s French for ‘couldn’t care less’) he came up with a word for turning an ignominious exit from Europe and 10 league games without a win into the merest trifle.

He was ahead of his time. The same fans who proclaimed ‘In Gerard We Trust’ have simply changed one word and carried on regardless, oblivious to the mess we’re in.

Ordinarily a draw against Lyon would not be sniffed at, but these are no ordinary times. Previous results make us skittish and reawaken the spectre of The Debt that haunts us. We’d happily forego the pleasure of European knockout for one year, were it not for the financial precipice we are teetering towards.