COMMENT: Balotelli’s half-time antics puts Anfield future in doubt
The controversial Italian has endured a miserable start to his Anfield career since a €20 million move from AC Milan, and few days have been worse than this one as Liverpool’s dream of recreating their European glory days was brutally dismantled by Carlo Ancelotti’s irrepressible side.
It was bad enough that Balotelli ambled his way ineffectively through a first half in which Real cruised into a three-goal lead, and bad enough that he never came close to adding to the solitary goal he has scored in a Liverpool shirt so far — against Champions League minnows Ludogorets Razgrad. But what really hurt Liverpool fans was the sight of the striker swapping shirts with Real defender Pepe as the pair walked amicably down the tunnel at half-time, the Portugal international patting his opponent affectionately on the shoulder as they went.
Anfield legend Phil Thompson was first to break ranks and express his astonishment: “He’s lucky to be wearing a Liverpool shirt the way he’s been playing. And then he gives it away? It’s disgraceful and disrespectful,” he said. “What is in his mind to do that? He’s having a difficult time as it is. You don’t do things like that. I think it’s absolutely dreadful.”
Thompson’s words may well strike a chord with Kopites who have cheered so many legendary strikers over the years, men such as Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, Roger Hunt, John Toshack, Kevin Keegan, John Aldridge and Michael Owen. Men who gave absolutely every last ounce of energy they had to the cause, who understood what it meant to wear the Liverpool shirt.
You have to wonder if Balotelli shares the same pride in a badge that is recognisable all over the world, a badge that has graced European Cup and Champions League finals and won Liverpool a vast army of supporters in every part of the globe.
Perhaps Brendan Rodgers, who defended his summer signing before kick-off by insisting he was a “big game” player, is beginning to wonder, too. This was certainly a big game — the biggest — and Balotelli was once again absent. He was by no means the only culprit, maybe not even the worst, as Liverpool and their chaotic defence found they were simply not good enough against a Real Madrid side that were a class apart. But his actions at half-time were inappropriate, to say the least — and the fact he was substituted immediately, replaced by Adam Lallana for the second half, suggests his future is open to question.
“What he did was unacceptable and he was substituted. So I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the reason,” said Thompson. “I would certainly do it.”
There seems to be a growing group of influential former Liverpool players willing to criticise Balotelli — Jamie Carragher for instance called for him to be dropped against Real following a poor display in last weekend’s win at QPR — and the Italian is certainly short of friends on Merseyside right now, having also gone six Premier League matches without a goal.
In fairness he wasn’t the reason why Liverpool lost to Real; the Anfield side were given a football lesson on the night and — despite captain Steven Gerrard’s warning that they could afford no ‘passengers’ if they wanted to compete against the Spaniards — too many men in red were not at their best.
You could probably name a string of players — including Gerrard himself — who failed to produce the kind of performance they are capable of; but once again Balotelli — the man who famously once asked ‘Why me?’ will find himself a scapegoat thanks to his own poor contribution and his own stupidity.
So even though there were 14 Liverpool players who metaphorically gave their shirt away against Real Madrid, just one will be remembered.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
