Mental--Bad Behaviour, Ugly Truths and the Beautiful Game by Jermaine Pennant

Author:Jermaine Pennant [Jermaine Pennant and John Cross]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786069696
Publisher: John Blake Publishing
Published: 2018-03-06T16:00:00+00:00

But, once you cross that white line, despite the huge occasion and the fact that it’s a great atmosphere, and once you’re getting touches of the ball, it feels like just another game. That’s how it was at times. When I had the ball, and I was going past a few players, putting crosses in and playing well, it was easy; it wasn’t overwhelming at all. You’re expecting, for some reason, the Champions League final to be different in some way. But ultimately, it’s a football game. It’s the same game you play when you’re playing at home, just on a bigger stage, so it’s no different. Yes, it’s important, but just another game.

So that was how I took it during the final and probably why I played so well. If people read too much into it, then I guess it can take hold of you, get into your head, and you don’t want to do certain things because it’s such big stage and because of the number of people watching. But none of that crossed my mind – that I was going be watched by people all over the world, as if it were the Champions League final. This is when I’m on the pitch, of course. When I’m off it in the build-up, I do think about this stuff, but when I’m on it and getting the ball, when I’m on my pass doing my duty, none of that even enters my head.

It’s like that in every game I play. If you get a good early touch, nice little lay-off, good pass, then you’re thinking, ‘Ah! It’s gonna be a good game today.’ Similarly, if you do something bad early on, then it knocks your confidence and it goes wrong.

The first thing I achieve is very important to me, the first couple of touches. Even if it’s just a one-two, or something simple. If it’s crisp and correct and how it should be, I feel I’ll have a good game. I think that’s one of my superstitions. That’s probably the only one I’ve got.

I played a one-two with Dirk Kuyt quite early on in the game. I always see it on pictures and the Milan keeper getting down to his right and saving it. I always think back, ‘Why didn’t I just rifle it high? If I’d scored, what would I have done?’ I’d probably have jumped over the barrier, taken my shirt off or something, and ended up getting booked. Mind you, that would have been worth it!

Among their team were players such as Maldini, Nesta, Pirlo and Kaká. They had a brilliant side. Kaká was fantastic, a real fighter. We tried everything to try to stop him from getting the ball. We had put in place lots of plans to do so, but, as soon as the ball went his way, all the plans went out of the window.

I bet they were looking at me thinking: ‘Hmm. Who is Jermaine Pennant?’ I think they knew once the game was finished! Massimo Ambrosini was marking me but I gave him a tough time.

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