Everton x Peterborough, on Thursday (9), in Liverpool, would be just another match among the dozens of one of the initial knockout stages of the FA Cup, a very traditional competition that has existed since 1871 – it is the oldest of all in football.
But there was something very different about this game. The possibility of a veteran player, Ashley Young, 39, already at the end of his career, facing an 18-year-old. Not just any young man. Tyler is your son.
It’s not that rare for children and parents to be in the same profession, and this also happens in football.
Among famous people, there is/was Pelé and Edinho, Diego Maradona and Diego Jr., Zinédine Zidane and Luka, Johan Cruyff and Jordi, Diego Simeone and Giovanni, Cesare Maldini and Paolo, Pablo Forlán and Diego, Mazinho and Thiago/Rafinha.
But for parents and children to act together, whether on the same team or as opponents, in a match – not a family match or one between friends, one on the weekend, in the middle of a barbecue, but one valid for professional competition – is extremely atypical .
I remember Rivaldo, world champion with the Brazilian team in the 2002 World Cup (Korea/Japan), playing with Rivaldinho, 18 years old at the time, for Mogi Mirim. It was in the 2014 Campeonato Paulista, before the star, who was 41 years old, announced the end of his career.
Recently, in October last year, in basketball, superstar LeBron James, aged 39, played alongside his son Bronny, 20, for the Los Angeles Lakers, against the Minnesota Timberwolves, in the NBA.
It’s always a great emotion when this happens, father and son smile, hug each other, cry. A very special moment, which also leaves the public feeling emotional, whether in the stadium/gym or outside, where a screen is showing the event.
It was therefore highly anticipated that in the clash at Goodison Park Ashley and Tyler would become the first father-son duo to duel in the history of the FA Cup.
That would depend on the coaches: interim Leighton Baines (Everton) and Darren Ferguson (Peterborough).
Ashley is currently a right back. At the end of the first decade of this century, he was a striker (of quality, with a lot of speed and stamina), defending Aston Villa. He also wore the shirts of Watford, Manchester United and Inter Milan. For the English team, he played 39 games.
Midfielder Tyler is still “crawling” at the third division club. Integrated into the main team this season, before the expected duel with his father he had been on the field in a single match, as a substitute, for the EFL Trophy, the third most important cup in England.
Both started in the reserves. Ashley is a starter, however, in clashes in the early stages of the cups, first division teams (such as Everton) usually spare the main players.
Midway through the second half, with Everton leading 1-0, Baines introduced Ashley into the game. Ferguson needed to do the same with Tyler.
That didn’t happen, which generated a feeling of frustration among football fans and the media. History was not made, and who knows when a new chance will come again.
After the game, which ended 2-0, the Peterborough coach had to explain why he didn’t call on Tyler.
“As much as I wanted Tyler to come in, at 1-0 I had to put in a striker. I have to try the best for my team. I couldn’t be benevolent.”
A poll on the BBC website shows support for Ferguson’s decision: 69% of readers who voted believe he acted correctly. I am one of the 31% who disagree. I wish the emotional, this time, had supplanted the rational.
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