Kennedy: Confidence key to sealing it with a kick

May 21 2007 Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL penalty hero Alan Kennedy reveals to Chris Wright the secret of staying cool under pressure

AS he stepped up to take the decisive penalty in the cauldron of Rome’s Olympic Stadium in 1984, Alan Kennedy didn’t know he was starting a Liverpool shoot-out dynasty.

The former full-back’s winning goal in the European Cup final was only the second time the Anfield side had sampled the post-match decider. And with the previous being in the glorified friendly of the Charity Shield, it was the first real test in a meaningful contest.

Liverpool passed it with flying colours and since then they have become experts, to rival international giants Germany and Brazil, in mastering the spot- kick drama at the end of stalemates on the biggest stages.

Ten times in 11 shoot-outs have the men in red emerged victorious and five times there has been a trophy to parade following the spot-kick triumph.

And while Kennedy would rather Rafael Benitez’s side secure a sixth European crown in Athens in the 90 minutes or in extra-time, the man known affectionately as Barney Rubble by Liverpool supporters, would have no worries if there was a re- run of the Istanbul 2005.

He said: “I think when the confidence is with you, you feel like you will win a shoot-out. You saw it two years ago and subsequently since with (Jose) Reina saving penalties. It seems so easy. He has been the top keeper making these saves and quite rightly he has been the hero in a lot of competitions, especially against Chelsea.

“I’d like to think it may not go to penalties, but if it does there is a confidence about Liverpool, certainly against Chelsea, that they can win it if it does.

“If it goes to penalties again it could be praying on the minds of the AC Milan players. They will be thinking that even their best players, like Shevchenko a couple of years ago, missed. He was probably the best centre-forward in the world at the time. They also know Liverpool have a keeper who is capable of winning it for them.”

Kennedy made scoring goals in finals something of speciality having hit the winner in the 1981 European Cup final victory over Real Madrid in Paris and also finding the net in League Cup finals against West Ham United and Manchester United.

But he recalls it was his relaxed attitude to playing. He was a fierce competitor, but knew his capabilities and that is why he wasn’t overly worried when he faced Roma keeper Franco Tancredi 23 years ago.

He recalled: “When you look back on it, or they show it on TV, you think my God, the pressure of walking up there. But 20-odd years ago there was 80,000 people and I don’t know how many watching worldwide, but now there are billions of people watching all over the world. There is a lot more on it now than when I played.