CLOUGH AND MOTIVATION

On this day: European Cup 1978/9 season First Round. Rangers beat Juventus, Grasshoppers Zurich beat Real Madrid; Liverpool were reigning champions and had not been knocked out of Europe for "four years", having won the UEFA Cup in 1976, the European Cup 1977. 

This time Liverpool were drawn against Nottingham Forest who had beaten Liverpool to the English title and the League Cup in the previous season. Liverpool however, were still favourites to progress. Brian Clough, Forest manager had their number however.

In the first leg on September 13th Forest had beaten Liverpool 2-0, at home at the City ground. Gary Birtles was the goal scorer, who had been thrown into the mix by Clough at the young age of 22 for only his third game. Clough recognised that Birtles had done well, having been discovered from being a "builder's tiler", two years previously. Clough reported that he told Birtles, as he let him on to the pitch, that if he didn't score, he would be back at the building site in a jiffy. Actually, Birtles didn't score but was kept in the squad for the return game.

Two weeks later, with the return match of such importance, Forest were obviously somewhat nervous on their way to the Midlands. Clough had the solution! 

Tony Woodcock recounted the coach journey north two weeks later and Woodcock noted that Clough had ordered a bottle of beer for all the players (probably staff as well, knowing Cloughie). At the pre-match hotel meal, he encouraged all the players to drink a glass of wine, With a couple of hours sleep after this, they were at Anfield and held out for a 0-0 draw, with Liverpool not really having a chance. Clough reported, smiling, that "they threw everythng they had at us except the docks, but we didn't panic. Forest went on to win the European Cup. 

Clough pulled a similar trick before that season's League Cup Final against Southampton, producing a crate of beer, insisting that everyone tucked in. Result? Forest 3 v Saints 2.