Whelan recalls horror of Heysel

It took a post-match walk round the devastated Heysel Stadium for Ronnie Whelan to truly understand the horror that preceded a match he wishes had never taken place.

Whelan was shielded from the appalling scenes that saw 39 supporters lose their lives prior to the 1985 European Cup Final as he sat in the Liverpool dressing room attempting to prepare for the eagerly-awaited encounter with Juventus.

As word filtered through of the trouble which had erupted, the former Irish international became increasingly convinced the game should be called off.

Fearful of more violence, UEFA ordered the match to be played and Whelan complied. But nothing will ever convince him it was the correct decision.

“We were obviously aware something had gone on but not to the extent it had,” he said.

“Nobody wanted to play. We went out because we were told to but it was horrible. You could sense the fans thinking ’what is going on here, we just want to get out’.

“Yet even at that stage we didn’t really know the precise details. That didn’t hit us until afterwards when we went out at the end after we had been changed.

“The terraces were a mess and you could see the shoes and the bits of clothing strewn all over the place. It was only then the full horror of what had gone on started to sink in.”

At the time, Whelan could hardly have guessed the eventual 1-0 defeat would prove to be the final European game of his illustrious career but the five-year ban imposed on English clubs as a result of the tragedy ensured it was.

Twenty years on and the two clubs meet again for the first time since in what is sure to be an emotionally charged atmosphere for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final at Anfield.

There have already been dark threats about revenge from some hard core Juventus fans, although no trouble is expected this week, with Whelan hoping enough time has now passed for the whole tie to pass off peacefully.

“Twenty years has passed now,” he said.

“I understand there will be some people who still feel bad because they have lost loved ones and nothing can be done to bring them back.

“But a lot of bridges have been built between the clubs over the years. That is bound to continue as a result of these two games and hopefully there will be no problems.”

As for the outcome, Whelan recognises Juventus are overwhelming favourites to seal a semi-final berth but remains convinced his old club are capable of springing a shock, especially if skipper Steven Gerrard receives a bit of assistance.

“I am not naive enough to think all the other six teams were wanting to draw either Liverpool or PSV Eindhoven,” said Whelan, who counts the 1984 European Cup win over Juventus alongside six league titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups from his own time at Anfield.

“It is undoubtedly a hard game for Liverpool but they are always dangerous in Europe and they can definitely get through.

“What I would really like to see are some of the other players standing up along with Steven Gerrard.

“Liverpool’s hopes should not rest entirely on his shoulders yet at the moment it just seems when he doesn’t play well, the team doesn’t play well.

“I have seen some statistics which suggest Liverpool win more games without him than they do with him. I honestly can’t believe that.

“You look at his contribution and it is easy to see why Liverpool need him so badly.”