Why is the European final of '70 such a non-fixture in our history?

I've wondered this for a time, now. It is almost like we never reached another European final. All the talk is rightly on our success in '67, but surely it deserves a mention? It adds to the legacy of the Lions, IMO. Of course we didn't win the match, but if our history and our fan support has proven anything, it is that we're dignified in defeat, enjoy the occasion, and chance to be there. There's no better example than the, still talked about, UEFA Cup final in '03.

Might it possibly be down to the fact that we lost against a team that were considered rank outsiders? If history showed anything, as well, it is that while the Dutch team weren't fancied, they went on to show they were not undeserving of European glory. They were a very fine team that peaked at the right time. We were, unfortunately, their opponents that day.

Anyone care to explain?

 

Simply cause we were the runners up mate

From listening and reading different views - especially those from members of the squad at the time and Lisbon Lions' - I would say your right about the fact Feyenoord were outsiders. We don't seem to cope well in Europe when we're favourites and that year the players themselves have said they thought they would be able to win, if not easily, comfortably

 

Annoys the * out of me, to be honest. Another major cup final, in our history, lost in extra-time...

The LL's were capable of even more success. It's a shame they weren't able to add another trophy to their name.

 

Probably because we expected to win and also it came so soon after our triumph would make it easily forgotten.

The reason Seville is so fondly remembered is because it had been so long since we were in a European final.

From the mid 60s until the early 80s we were regularly in the QF/SFs of European competition, could have had 3 big cups quite easily.

 

Team were too complacent that match. Out on the bevy the night before etc

 

And there were arguments about bonuses and all that * before the game.
Think the team were built up that much by the fans and press etc that they thought it was in the bag.

 

I read in Steins biography the same. We thought we had it won. Jock never went through the usual methodical processes he did before the match.
The players were allowed free reign, unlike in Lisbon where they couldn't even sunbathe and a walk to the shops was supervised by club staff.
The players at the time were worried too as it was not the usual thing Stein did. He barely gave a team talk.
I think in order to relax them by trying to not let them worry (being favourites) Stein played it wrong and made them worse as they thought he'd maybe lost it!

 

I’m devastated we didn’t win it tbh

I would love nothing more than to have two European Cups. As much as I love the whole spectacle of the 67 triumph, it kind of seems like a 'one off'.

Whilst Seville was in my lifetime, and was truly magical; if I could choose to rewrite one aspect of our history, I would choose to rewrite the 1970 Final.

 

Even more heartbreaking than the '70 Cup Final was the untapped potential that followed, highlighted by the Semi-Final appearances of '72 & '74. Had the Quality Street generation (Connelly, McGrain, Hay, Dalglish, Macari, Wilson etc) been able to further develop throughout the 70's as a team who knows just how much more European success we may have enjoyed. Yet again, the Board's policies hindered the best chance we ever had for establishing a dynasty in Europe.

 

apart from celtic leeds were quite possibly the best team in europe at the time...and we knocked them out in the semi...i reckon we turned up expecting to beat feyenoord...... it was a fine achievement getting to the final...... but second is last in a two horse race....and like seville it was a real shame we couldnt get over the finish line and collect a trophy on those occasions.

 

We lost it, that's why and the fact that at the time we were considered one of the best teams in Europe meant that it went down as a non-event for us.

The UEFA Cup final in Seville was more or less made by the Celtic fans that travelled there rather than the game itself, although it was a great achievement from the team reaching it. I doubt many would still be talking about it had just a few thousand fans went and we lost.

 

It's the old saying; nobody remembers the runner up.

Unfortunately this was us in 1970.

Had the homework been done on the opposition and the usual prep done we would have 2 European Cups in our trophy cabinet.

And as above, had the team of the 70's stayed together for a while longer who knows what would have happened!

Fact is, we still have what the huns can only dream of!

Hail Hail

 

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I'd say despite Lisbon, we've massively underachieved in Europe.

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We thought we had it in the bag after the Leeds semis and beating them in both legs. We weren't the first team to take it for granted we would win and we weren't the last. Wonder how we would look on that team if we had won.

 

The annoying thing about the 1970 European Cup Final is that we could, and perhaps should, have won it. Some of the players in the Celtic team at that time have since come out and admitted that they took Feyenoord too lightly. They thought they could just turn up and win. That arrogance cost us dearly.

For that reason I think this match is best forgotten. It was a golden opportunity missed.

 

Feyenoord done what we done to Inter Milan. Bobby Lennox apologised to my Gran and Papa for getting beat (travelled over for the final); showed the disapointment at losing a game that they felt was more winable.

 

This is exactly how I see it. When we played Inter we were relatively unknown and Inter just thought they would turn up. When we played Feyenoord noone really knew much about Dutch football and by all accounts we took them too lightly. I think it is often ignored just because it is very close to 67 when we won it. Had it been 20 year later I think it would be seen in its own light.

 

Probably because at the time we were one of(2/3) if not the best team in Europe for a few years and expected to win it. Would be like Barcelona losing this years final to Arsenal.

 

Got a DVD boxset about the history of football and in one of the episodes there is a brief interview with one of the Feyenoord players who said our players were very arrogant that game. Could possibly be why we lost it, like you say, they were outsiders. Just imagine if we had won the European Cup twice! That'd have been more than Barcelona and Man U up until the very recent history!

What a legend Tommy Gemmell is too.