MAY 25
Ancelotti
shattered after defeat
BBC Sport Online
AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti blamed a crazy period
of play for his side's remarkable Champions League final
defeat to Liverpool.
"We had six minutes of madness in which we threw away
the position we had reached until then," he said.
"The match was well contested and it's inexplicable
because the team played well for all 120 minutes.
"That's the way it went and we must go forward. We
recognise it, we are displeased and disappointed."
He added: "I think Milan played a marvellous final. We
lost without deserving to lose and OK, we have to accept
our defeat.
"We had the penalties and we lost and I think the team
should be proud of what we have done. We are unhappy but
I think we lost in an honourable way.
"Now we must play our last match of the season and then
we will start thinking about next season."
The defeat completes a miserable double for Milan whose
draw with Palermo last Friday saw Juventus take their
Serie A title.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said that
despite the defeat, his side had enjoyed a good
campaign.
"Even if we come second in the league, and second in the
Champions League, this is not a disastrous season for
us," he said.
"I've seen a great Milan tonight, aside from those six
mad minutes where we conceded three goals.
"In extra-time, we played to win while Liverpool did the
opposite. They were just looking to go for the
penalties.
"I think I can say that we've been unfortunate
considering that Andriy Shevchenko's disallowed goal
should have counted as he was in an onside position," he
said.
Milan striker Jon Dahl Tomasson said: "We gave it
away and it's very disappointing.
"Liverpool played well in the second half and we had 10
minutes when our concentration went a bit. Everybody is
down. I think we deserved to win."
Argentina legend Diego Maradona admitted he was
shocked by Liverpool's comeback.
"Even the Brazil team that won the 1970 World Cup could
not have staged a comeback with Milan leading 3-0," said
the former Napoli star.
"I am disappointed as anyone who has played in Italy
would be. At 3-0 Milan were convinced that no-one could
come back.
"But what has happened has happened. Milan never stopped
playing and [Andriy] Shevchenko could have won it in
extra-time.
"I have seen comebacks like that in football but never
against a team that so clearly was superior as Milan
were."
MAY 25
Jubilant
Gerrard hints at Reds stay
TEAMtalk
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard hinted he would be
staying at Anfield after the Reds dramatically became
European champions in Istanbul.
Gerrard started the Reds' comeback against AC Milan with
the first goal as they hit back from 3-0 down to level
the match at 3-3, before going on to win a penalty
shoot-out 3-2 after extra-time had failed to produce a
winner.
The England midfielder's Liverpool future has been in
doubt - with Chelsea and Real Madrid reportedly
interested in signing him.
But after Wednesday night's success, Gerrard said: "I'll
be having talks very shortly - and it's looking good."
Gerrard said that even he thought the game was beyond
Liverpool at half-time. But he gave credit to boss
Rafael Benitez for reminding the players the match was
far from over.
"Credit to this man," said Gerrard, with Benitez by his
side. "He never let us get our heads down."
Paying tribute to the masses of supporters who followed
Liverpool to Istanbul, he added: "These fans have saved
up for months to come here.
"After the Carling Cup final a few people questioned my
commitment but I'm just happy I can do this for the
fans, the chairman and this football club."
Gerrard gave an indication that his future could be at
Liverpool next season.
"I'm going to talk very soon with (chairman) Rick Parry
and the manager but it's looking good."
Defensive henchman Jamie Carragher added: "It's
unbelievable. This must be one of the greatest of all
time. I've never seen a final like that in my life."
Like Gerrard, Carragher admitted he felt down and out at
half-time.
"We were all deflated," he said, before revealing how
Liverpool felt confident after Gerrard pulled the first
goal back.
"We got the first one and they seemed to 'go'. I'm just
delighted."
Gerrard added: "At 3-0 down at half-time I thought I was
going to be in tears after the final whistle.
"But the manager said keep our chins up and try and
score early - and we did.
"I'm on top of the world. Every one of us deserves it -
it hasn't sunk in yet and I'm finding it hard to talk. I
can't describe how good I feel.
"The fans are the 12th man and I'm really happy for the
chairman.
"We've taken some stick over the past few years and now
we have delivered."
MAY 25
Reds take European crown
By Graeme Bailey - Sky Sports
Liverpool are the champions of Europe once again
after they defeated Milan on penalties in Istanbul.
In one of the best finals in UEFA Champions League
history, Liverpool had looked dead and buried at half
time as they trailed 3-0.
Paolo Maldini struck in the first minute, before two
quick-fire goals just before the interval from Hernan
Crespo.
A miraculous turn-around in the second half saw
Liverpool level matters as they grabbed three goals in
just six minutes.
Steven Gerrard headed home before Vladimir Smicer fired
in from 25 yards.
Gerrard then burst into the area and won a penalty which
Xabi Alonso missed - although the Spaniard recovered to
slot home the leveller.
Milan pushed the hardest as the game progressed into
extra time and a wonderful late save from Jerzy Dudek
will go down in Anfield legend.
The Pole made sure of his place in Liverpool folklore as
he saved Andrei Shevchenko's penalty in the shoot-out to
hand the English side the Champions League title.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez had opted against playing
Dietmar Hamann in preference for Harry Kewell, but the
Spaniard was left rueing that decision after just 51
seconds as Milan converted their very first chance.
Djimi Traore was penalised for a foul on Kaka. Andrea
Pirlo curled the free kick to the edge of the area for
his skipper Maldini who volleyed the ball down and past
a helpless Dudek.
Liverpool reacted positively to their early setback and
could easily have levelled. John Arne Riise saw his
goalbound effort deflect wide, before Gerrard picked out
Sami Hyypia with a terrific ball into the box but the
giant Finn could not beat Dida with his powerful header.
Luis Garcia came to his side's rescue 15 minutes in when
he headed Crespo's goalbound header off the line, after
the Argentine got in front of Gerrard.
The Kewell experiment failed after just 20 minutes as he
limped off with a groin injury, meaning an early
reshuffle for Benitez as Vladimir Smicer entered the
fray.
Shevchenko then went close to doubling Milan's lead, but
he moved just too soon as Kaka threaded a nice ball
through the Liverpool defence and despite beating Dudek
the effort was rightfully ruled offside.
Garcia could then have levelled as Milan Baros flicked a
Riise pass into the Spanish forward's path, but his wild
effort flew wide when he should have hit the target.
Then a six-minute spell before the interval looked to
have all but ended Liverpool's hopes of a fifth European
crown.
Milan grabbed a second as they hit Liverpool with a
stunning counter-attack, although The Reds felt they
should have had a penalty in the build-up as Alessandro
Nesta's slid in to intercept
Garcia in the area, but the referee waved play on and
within 30 seconds the ball was in Dudek's net.
From Nesta's interception, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence
Seedorf and Kaka worked their way in lightning fashion
up the pitch and the Brazilian played in Shevchenko in
the area, he decided against shooting and squared the
ball to Crespo who made no mistake from close-range.
Kaka then showed his class with a truly sublime ball
which sliced open the Liverpool defence and picked out
Crespo on the edge of the area and the on loan Chelsea
man finished in equally fantastic style as he clipped
the ball first time over Dudek.
At half time Benitez brought on Hamann for the injured
Steve Finnan and switched to a 3-5-2 formation.
The presence of Hamann had an immediate effect on
Liverpool as they looked more comfortable in possession
and that showed as Alonso zipped a vicious shot wide
from 35 yards.
Shevchenko then saw a thumping free kick somehow parried
wide from Dudek and within moments the Pole would see
how important his stop was as Liverpool miraculously
levelled the scores within six minutes.
They found themselves back in the game when their own
captain fantastic Gerrard headed home a Riise cross on
52 minutes.
Then just two minutes later, Smicer picked up the ball
from Hamann 25 yards out before unleashing a fizzing
drive past Dida into the corner of the Milan net.
Milan were visibly rattled as Liverpool came pushed
everything at the Italians looking for the most unlikely
of equalisers and again it came - this time on the hour.
Gerrard was again the inspiration as he broke into the
area in archetypal style and was hauled down by Gattuso
before he could get his shot away.
The spot kick was awarded and Alonso stepped up, only
for Dida to produce a wonderful save low-down to his
right - but the Basque star did not give it up and fired
into the roof of the net before the Milan defence could
react.
From the most one-sided Champions League final in recent
years, the game was now one of the most memorable in
European footballing history.
Milan should have retaken the lead when Kaka delivered
another great ball into the area which Dudek failed to
deal with, that allowed Shevchenko to turn and fire at
goal - but thankfully for Liverpool Traore was on the
line to clear brilliantly.
Liverpool were still not without their own chances and
Garcia should have done better as a superb 40-yard ball
from Gerrard found his Spanish team-mate in the area and
behind the Milan defence, but he could not control the
ball and the opportunity was gone.
Almost straight from that Liverpool chance, Milan
countered yet again with Shevchenko skipping past two
chances before feeding Crespo into the area, but he
could not find Kaka in the six-yard box as Jamie
Carragher cleared.
Shevchenko began to carry the ball a lot more and it
needed a last ditch intervention from Carragher to block
his progress. The resulting corner almost saw Milan
clinch a late winner as Jaap Stam headed down but Kaka
could not redirect the ball goal wards from just two
yards out and that meant extra time.
Ten minutes into added time and Milan created the first
and only opening of the first half of extra time.
Substitute Serginho found time on the left and crossed
for fellow replacement Jon Dahl Tomasson who had backed
off Traore to find room - but the Dane missed the ball
to the relief of the Reds defence.
The opening exchanges of the second period saw Liverpool
have their first chance of extra time, but Hamann's
drive from the edge of the area deflected wide.
Serginho then created danger down the left and crossed
into the six-yard box, but somehow Liverpool cleared
through the Trojan like Carragher - who now was
struggling with cramp.
Milan were now very much on top and Pirlo won a free
kick on the very edge of the area as Hamann blocked his
drive. The Italian picked himself up and whipped in the
set-piece but Liverpool again scrambled clear.
Then The Rossoneri thought they had won the game.
Serginho again crossed from the left and Shevchenko
headed at goal, Dudek parried - the Ukrainian followed
up and somehow the keeper managed pushed the ball over,
but he should not have had the chance to even get near
it.
In the final minute Liverpool won a free kick 30 yards
from goal in perfect position for Riise, but Hamann's
lay-off was too short and that was it, the European
final would be decided on penalties as it was two years
ago when Milan last won the trophy - although The Reds'
last success in 1984 also came via a penalty shoot-out.
Serginho took the first kick and skied the ball over as
Dudek danced his way along the line.
Hamann fired home, and then Dudek brilliantly saved from
Pirlo to give Liverpool a huge advantage.
Cisse found the back of the net and Tomasson registered
Milan's first before Riise saw his penalty saved well by
Dida.
Kaka stepped up next and levelled matters, although the
advantage was still Liverpool's as Smicer picked up the
ball and fired home with great aplomb.
Milan now needed to score as Shevchenko stepped up and
he missed as Dudek sunk to his right to keep the ball
out.
The stadium erupted as the visiting Scouse army could
not control their ecstasy as they hailed their
conquering heroes who produced one of the most memorable
performances in the history of English football.
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