BERLIN is the biggest European city never to have hosted the Champions League or European Cup final, and is gearing up for a very special occasion.Among those looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere – and playing his part in it – is the legendary Dutch striker Marco van Basten, who knows from experience just how much the fans’ support can inspire a team.
In his first European Cup final, AC Milan lifted the trophy that was famously dubbed by his team-mate Ruud Gullit as “the cup with the big ears”. That was 26 years ago, when Milan thrashed Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in Barcelona, and it was an experience Van Basten will never forget.
“When we were on the team bus all we could see was a sea of people in black and red,” Van Basten told Goal. “The players looked at each other and we had the feeling that it was not possible to lose this match. We played well, we won well, everybody was happy and there was a big party afterwards. It was a special night.”
It was so special that Paolo Maldini, who was playing in the first of his eight finals, described it as “the greatest experience I have had in my life”. The reason was the sheer number of Milan fans.
Romania, at that time, was part of the Communist Eastern Bloc and would not allow fans to travel to the west. While Steaua were backed by an estimated 250 VIP fans, Milan had more than 90,000. It was said to be the biggest movement of people in peacetime Europe, with the Milanese invaders arriving by air, road, rail and sea.
“It was 20 years since Milan had played in the final and there was so much interest in the game,” said Van Basten, who will be an ambassador for Nissan in Berlin. “It was very emotional, amazing. We won again in Vienna in 1990, but that was different, a very tactical game against Benfica. Barcelona was unforgettable.”
That Milan side was one of the greatest in European football history. The goalscorers in the 5-0 semi-final thrashing of Real Madrid in 1989 were Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Van Basten himself, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Donadoni. They also had Maldini and Franco Baresi at the back. No team has won the title two years running since then.
The presence of Barcelona, who appear to have the quality to emulate that feat, in Berlin will add to the allure. The city was famously vibrant during the 2006 World Cup and there will be plenty for fans to enjoy in the days leading up to Saturday’s final, as well as the big game itself.
Remarkably, Van Basten has never played in Berlin nor been to the city. “Holland were knocked out early in the 2006 World Cup so I didn’t go, I watched at home on television,” he said. “It’s a very historic city and I am looking forward to going.”
Nissan have laid on an array of entertainment for fans from Wednesday to Sunday. “It’s going to be great fun for the fans,” said Van Basten, who will be on hand at 2×2 games in an interactive football cage near the stadium, and at the Performance Maze, where anyone can have a go at demonstrating their skills.
Energy created at the fans’ festival will be measured and used to power an electric vehicle to take the “cup with the big ears” to the stadium. There are match tickets to be won, too, at the Champions Festival.