George Gillett was awestruck by the Anfield atmosphere against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final.
“What can I say after Tuesday night? It was magical,” said Gillett. It was like attending the greatest sports event you ever go to on steroids. Nothing can compare to it.
I couldn’t have imagined when we bought the club the kinds of experience we’d have already. David Moores told me I had to understand what it was like and I would nod and say ‘yes, we understand’. Really, neither I, Foster or the Hicks family could say we did. This is so much bigger and so much more important to so many people than we could ever have imagined. We walked around town on Tuesday to see some of the sights. There was a lot of singing going on, and I know this may shock a few people, but there was quite a lot of beer drinking too. And I’m sure there was a lot after the game too.
I wish I had been on The Kop, but I was concerned it would be a distraction. We’ve acknowledged the importance of The Kop already since we arrived and it’s clear why the new stadium must be designed around it. We’ll try to have as many seats there as there used to be when it was originally a standing area. That’s our ambition. That was once 24,000. We may not be able to get that many, but we’ll certainly go beyond the 12,000 we are now.
Rafa has been tremendous. My sons and I followed the sport here before we came; we knew about Rafa Benitez and what he had done in Europe," said Gillett. We knew of him but I don't think we realised how good he was, and not just as a coach. Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. He knows what he wants and how to get it.
"The more we have seen of him the more impressed we have become. We have talked money but that is not the main point. We have discovered that the way people operate privately is not always the same as in public. We will be supporting him during the summer but it is not about money, it is about giving people opportunities."