Anderson Was ‘Terrified’ of Taking Penalty for United in Champions League Final Against Chelsea

Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson has relayed his feelings as he stepped up to take a penalty in United’s shootout victory over Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final. Anderson was brought on as a sub in the 119th minute for the sole purpose of taking a kick in the shootout. He converted and United […]
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sambafoot_admin
2017-06-27 18:41:00

Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson has relayed his feelings as he stepped up to take a penalty in United’s shootout victory over Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final.

Anderson was brought on as a sub in the 119th minute for the sole purpose of taking a kick in the shootout. He converted and United eventually won, but Anderson admits that he was far from confident.

In an interview with Radio Grenal, the now Internacional player said, “I came on to take the penalty,” he said. “I hadn’t touched the ball. I was sitting on the bench, Giggs looked and said like this: ‘Get Anderson to take one’. I said ‘Oh my’. I was 18 at the time.

“I went for it. How couldn’t I? I didn’t touch the ball in the game. I got there, Ferguson saying ‘come, come, come’. He put me in, the game finished and I said ‘Oh my God’.

“I took the ball, it was the longest walk of my life. Even when I came from Azenha to Grêmio, it was the longest walk I ever saw. I came with the ball and I was just shaking. I was already shaking. I was terrified. The history of a club, and our fans were on that side.

“I went to the ball, I got the ball, I looked at that goalkeeper, who is a giant. Cech opened his arms, I said ‘oh, I’m f***ed’. I’ll kick it hard, close my eyes and pray for the ball to go in… then I took three, four steps, I closed my eyes and the ball passed just by his hand.”

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sambafoot_admin
June 29, 2017