Maybe the three week build up was too long? Maybe the tension killed the occasion? Whatever way you want to look at it, as a spectacle, the Champions League Final between Spurs and Liverpool failed to live up to expectations.
At least for Liverpool fans, the relief and ecstasy of winning football's top club competition for a sixth time will taste sweet no matter how the game went.
For Spurs fans, there's wasn't much to enjoy from a sub-par performance that saw the team concede a penalty in the first minute that they never really looked like recovering from. So if you're a Spurs fan and you thought having to watch that final on TV was bad, maybe this story will make you feel a bit better about yourself.
@SkySportsNews @thomascooksport @SpursOfficial our 9.50am flight was sat on the tarmac for 2 hours before it was even looked at by an engineer. 3 hours on flight cancelled and they are trying to find us another plane. 250 spurs fans all with tickets stranded at stanstead
— martin gaish (@gaishy1972) June 1, 2019
A scheduled 9.50am flight from London Stanstead to Madrid never left the tarmac, and a number of panicked Tottenham supporters had to endure a travel day from hell. One of them was Ben Gallop, who is the head of radio and digital for BBC Sport, and was planning to attend the final with his son.
As the initial flight delay began to escalate into something more concerning, Ben tweeted regular updates on the shambles that would give any seasoned travelling football supporter cause for a nervous breakdown.
I am genuinely speechless about what myself, my son and 190 other @SpursOfficial fans have gone through today. We were supposed to be heading to Madrid at 0950. Instead we have been stuck all day at Stanstead by a succession of issues...
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
We have been so patient, so upbeat and yet, right at the end, it looks like we will miss out on the greatest match in our team’s history. But as I write the plane is staring to taxi...
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
If we take off right now we *might* just make it...?
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Lots of speculation in here that we can get to Madrid in 90 minutes. Is that even possible? And what happens at the other end? Right, engines revving - we’re off...
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Just coming in to land - greeted by an alert telling me Kane starts. Finally some good news! But so much more still to navigate: disembarking, passport control, transfer. Argh!
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Loving the support on here - it means a lot! We can see the stadium from the plane, but you know what it’s like getting off these things. So near, but yet...
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Police escort to get us from the plane to the terminal. Gotta keep believing pic.twitter.com/ICh7ed4pjB
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Amazing reception at Madrid airport! Passport control were brilliant - then the police had stopped all the traffic and ushered us through to the coaches 😍
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Here’s that mad rush to the coaches. The people of Madrid, you have restored our faith! Now, vamos! pic.twitter.com/0DmORSY9en
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
That’s the stadium (I think). We can virtually hear the Champs League anthem. I think we’re gonna be OK 🤞 pic.twitter.com/rZZyx2uGsH
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
News comes through to the coach that events might be delayed. Never have I been so grateful for tardy opening ceremonies! Thank you, UEFA
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Just when we could smell the fireworks, our bus driver managed to get a bit lost. Went round a roundabout three times. A collective cry of: “Couldn’t make it up!”
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
And now we hear Liverpool have a penalty. Oh joy.
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
Made it - but it’s 1-0. Oh well, to travel is better than to arrive 😉 pic.twitter.com/7rp9Eu57sU
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) June 1, 2019
We're not sure if all the trouble was worth it in the end Ben.
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