(k'nell, he still has it bad)
Everton legend Howard Kendall is insisting that Liverpool should not have been allowed to defend their European title in this season's Champions League.
The former Blues Boss believes Uefa bowed to pressure to hand the Anfield club a wild card after their success in Istanbulâs Attaturk Stadium in May.
Kendall is also asking where was Evertonâs wildcard was when English clubs were allowed to re-enter European competition following the 1980s ban.
Everton should have qualified for the 1985-86 European Cup but due to the events at Heysel and their subsequent exclusion they were prevented from doing so and never got the chance, despite arguably being the best side in Europe at the time.
Kendall said: ãLiverpool have finished fifth but have been given a wild card ö even though the ruling was that the top four qualified. But there was no wild card for Everton when English clubs were re-admitted to Europe. Instead Liverpool were the first club back in.
ãEverton should have been given a place then after being denied as champions. It would not have benefited me at the time ö Iâd left the club by then.
ã I donât agree with Liverpool being in the Champions League now even though they won it. The rules should not have been changed just like that.ä
Kendallâs has a theory that officials from Uefa were banking on a Liverpool defeat in Turkey so they would effectively have no decision to make as Rafael Benitezâs side finished fifth in the Premiership ö outside the qualification zone.
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He said: ãIf they had wanted to change them for next season as a result of that, fair enough but I believe Uefa kept delaying a decision when Liverpool reached the final in the hope they would lose.
ãIf that had happened they would not have a decision to make. I bet Uefa officials had the cigars out at half-time in the final when Liverpool were 3-0 down.
ãI am not bitter at being denied the chance to take the club into the Europeam Cup. How can I be when people lost their lives at Heysel. That puts everything into perspective but I was envious when they were the first team back in when the ban was lifted.
ãEverton should have fought harder at the time because they should have been the first in Europe from England after the ban. They should have changed the rules for Everton as they did in the summer for Liverpool.ä
