According to Liverpool Echo, we will take a look of the famous Liverpool vs Galatasaray match of pre-season in 2003. The Liverpool heated pre-season was something fans did not expect during this time of the season. It is very common to have fights during the heated moment of an ongoing match. We have seen some serious fights in the recent times between players when the stakes are very high. However a fight or a heated moment during the pre-season is something very difficult to believe for football fans. Now before that lets talk about what pre-season is. The time before the season starts where players come back from their rest period to play in club friendlies is pre-season. During this time the club and the players work hard to get their fitness to optimal levels before start of the season. Overall the stakes are very low in the pre season.
Currently the pre season is going on in the football world. All the clubs from all over are world are playing in friendlies to get fit for the season. This is the time for the managers to work on their tactics and team chemistry. Many clubs may have appointed new managers or signed new players. During pre season new players can get a chance to play with the team. The new managers also get some time before the season to integrate players in their playstyle. Most of the Premier League clubs are going through this situation. Chelsea sacked their manager Mauricio Pochettino just before the start of the new season. They appointed Enzo Maresca after the manager spend just one year with Leicester City. Chelsea also had many key players who were injured last season like Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling. These players can get some game time currently.
Liverpool heated clash against Galatasaray in 2003
Chelsea signed many young players as a future investment recently. This was a very good step for the long term. However many players failed to adapt to the Premier League and took their good time. Some young players like Romeo Lavia were injured for whole season and got no game time. All these players are available for Chelsea’s pre season tour in USA this summer. Lavia and Nkunku have already featured in all of Chelsea’s pre season games till now. New manager Enzo Maresca has enough time at his hands to develop these players before the season starts. Another club from London Arsenal made some signings this summer. The Gunners sign Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori. This is a great time for the youngster to get play time with the club. Liverpool and Manchester City are also playing friendlies around the world for preparation.
Pre season is the time of friendly atmosphere between clubs. However when we refer to history, there may be some matches that found competitive edge during this period. One of the match was in 2003 between Liverpool and Galatasaray in the Amsterdam tournament in Holland. The match was suppose to be a good game of football between two powerhouses. However the match quickly turned into one of the most chaotic matches. These two teams already played each other twice in the Champions league the previous year. Matters turn worse when Steven Gerrard who came as a substitute in the second half was given a yellow card. The incident started after a bad tackle by Galatasaray player Igor Biscan. However it was a tackle from another Liverpool substitute, Neil Mellor that started the all out fight between the players. The match ended with Liverpool losing 2-1 after Emile Heskey scored equaliser.
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