Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, has recently opened up about the lasting impact of Luis Garcia’s controversial goal in Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final victory over his team in 2005.
In that fateful match, Liverpool faced off against Mourinho’s Chelsea in the second leg of the semi-final. It was May 2005, and the tension was palpable. Just five minutes into the game at Anfield, Garcia seized the opportunity and found the back of the net.
This momentous goal came about after a collision between Milan Baros and Petr Cech, leaving the Spaniard with a clear shot at an open goal.
Despite the valiant efforts of Chelsea defender William Gallas, who attempted to clear Garcia’s strike, the referee, Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez, ruled that the ball had already crossed the line. Liverpool was awarded the vital goal, while Chelsea was left to rue their missed chances.
With a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory over the Londoners, Liverpool went on to face AC Milan in the final, where they clinched their fifth European Cup in a thrilling encounter.
Reflecting on that unforgettable moment, Mourinho admitted that it still haunts him. When asked about the football moment that continues to weigh on his mind, the 61-year-old coach answered, “It was the Champions League semi-final loss with a goal that wasn’t a goal.”
After Mourinho’s comments made their way into the public domain, Garcia responded, affirming that the ball did indeed cross the line. The debate surrounding the goal continues to this day.
Looking back on the incident in 2023, Mourinho shared his perspective, stating, “Ultimately, it is the field that speaks. The only time I witnessed a stadium scoring a goal was in the 2005 Champions League semi-final.
Liverpool’s stadium scored a goal because the ball hadn’t actually gone in, but the noise they generated was so overwhelming that it influenced the decision.
Home advantage statistically favors the home team with more positive results, but the game still needs to be played.”
The memory of that fateful night at Anfield and the controversy surrounding Garcia’s goal lingers on, forever etched in Mourinho’s mind.
