What really irks me is the fact that we always point to this mental fragility that we have. It's plain as day, it's clear for all to see. Why do we suffer from this? It's not like we're getting mugged (literally) or violated and struggle to leave the house. We're on a football pitch, FFS. We're meant to be spurred on by defeat.
Yesterday, Chelsea, after offering next to nothing all game, equalised in the 89th minute having gone behind in the 82nd minute. Remarkable.
It got me thinking, we haven't done anything of the like since Sampdoria in 1995. Going 3-1 down with barely a minute left in extra time and staring into the wilderness. Schwarz steps up and scores a free-kick and we go on to win the tie on penalties. From despair to joy within the short space of 10 minutes.
Who were we playing under on this great night of European football? Stewart Houston as caretaker boss. Has a comeback like yesterday's, or at Sampdoria in '95 ever happened under Wenger? I honestly can't remember one. Meaningless EPL games come to mind (equalising at Sunderland in injury time a few years back having gone a goal down in the 89th min)
We seem to be incapable of anything 'special' now. We have our excuses at the ready. The last 3 times an English team has won the Champions League against foreign opposition, they've either scored a late winner/equaliser (or both!) or come back from a massive deficit in 90 minutes of play. I honestly don't think we can do that....
