Kendall seethes at Liverpool in Europe
Aug 8 2005
By Paul Walker Daily Post Correspondent
FORMER Everton manager Howard Kendall has launched an astonishing attack on the decision to allow Liverpool to defend their Champions League crown.
Cahill signs new contractYou all seemedsointerested in his contract dealings a few weeks ago so I thought I would keep you in...
As Everton prepare to make their first appearance in the European Cup for 34 years, Kendall has once again revealed the deep bitterness that remains over the way the Goodison side were treated by UEFA when England's clubs were banned from Europe.
Kendall's team were not allowed to compete in the European Cup after winning the championship in 1985 and 1987 following Liverpool's part in the Heysel disaster.
And Kendall insists Everton should have been given a wild card by UEFA - just as Champions League holders Liverpool have been this term - when English sides were eventually allowed back into the European Cup in 1990.
"Liverpool have finished fifth but have been given a wild card 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.
"Everton should have been given a place then after being denied as champions. It would not have benefited me at the time - I had left the club by then."
Manchester United and Aston Villa were the first teams to be re-admitted when UEFA lifted the ban on English clubs, with Liverpool barred until the 1991-92 season. Everton's only appearance in Europe since then was in the 1995-96 Cup Winners' Cup..
Kendall has chosen to reopen old wounds in the week that the Merseyside neighbours are both playing third qualifying round ties, with Everton at home to Villarreal tomorrow and Liverpool away to CSKA Sofia the following night.
Kendall said: "I do not agree with Liverpool being in the Champions League now even though they won it. The rules should not have been changed just like that."
Kendall believes UEFA officials were banking on a Liverpool defeat by AC Milan in last season's Istanbul final so they would effectively have had no decision to make as Rafael Benitez's side finished fifth in the Premiership - outside the qualification places.
"If they had wanted to change the rules 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," he said..
"If that had happened they would not have a decision to make.
"I am not bitter at being denied the chance to take Everton into the European 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. "Everton 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."
Everton now face a very tough tie with Spain's third-best club.
ok, we heard that earlier, I'm repeating because in the same paper previously:
Howard Kendall
Everton FC Howard Kendall Article
Reds' success can inspire Everton's bid
YOU have to say well done to the Liverpool management and the players.
I cannot recall such a big game ever being as dramatic as that, especially against Italian opposition who are renowned for the defensive qualities.
I really hope they compete in next season's Champions League competition. They deserve the chance to defend their title.
Liverpool really had their supporters behind them because so many people had written them off.
Fan power can be equally important for the Blues next season. Evertonians will be lifted by what has happened across the park. No one thought Liverpool would do it, so why can't the Blues be successful?
When their Champions League campaign starts there will be a tremendous atmosphere inside Goodison. Liverpool's success has ensured that.
