You shake my nerves...

And yes, you rattle my old brain...

I don't recall the last time I was so nervous. Probably just last season if I'm honest but I don't remember the level of tension seeming so high. It no doubt stems from the fact that it's out of our hands today, and to their credit, some are using that as a means to be sanguine about what happens. Not me.

I had a day out at Coney Island during the summer where I threw myself out there amongst the waves as I usually do. But pretty quickly it hit me that this time was different and whether I made it back into shore was not going to be completely up to me. Now obviously I did (as I wouldn't be writing this otherwise), but I'll confess that it did pull me right up. And now as a result, when something's out of my hands, it makes the control freak in me even more anxious.

It's not that I'm particularly upset over the possibility of the Europa League. Why not play to win it if we're in it? But it will wreak more than a little havoc on our weekend league and FA cup fixtures...and, let's be honest here, Monday hangovers are not fun. But as has been noted, Dortmund was one of the best nights (or afternoon, here in NY) in recent history. Who wouldn't want to relive that?

But it's more that you know it just kills our Rafa. Even if we run out with the best laid and executed plan tonight, he can't plan or control what happens in Florence.

In any event, let's hang on for the ride. It's gonna be one hell of 'un.

COME ON YOU REDS.