AC Milan are desperate to atone for their Istanbul nightmare when they face Liverpool in next Wednesday’s Champions League final rematch in Athens.
Milan looked certain to beat Liverpool in the 2005 final after taking a 3-0 lead at half-time.
But Milan inexplicably imploded in a bizarre six-minute spell in the second half in which they allowed Liverpool to score three times and level the tie.
Extra-time failed to separate the two sides, but Liverpool held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to lift the trophy.
”It was something strange and a night that is hard to forget,” said AC Milan’s tough-tackling midfielder, Gennaro Gattuso.
”It will stay in my memory forever and still hurts me thinking about it.
”But the thoughts and feelings of what happened that night can stimulate us. I believe it has given us strength and can motivate us even more.”
So painful is the memory of that final, Gattuso has not been able to watch the video of the match.
”You need courage to watch it, and I haven’t plucked up enough yet,” said the 29-year-old Italian World Cup winner.
”I have seen bits of it, but not the whole match. It’s something I just can’t bring myself to do.”
Gattuso’s memories contrast starkly with those of Liverpool’s attack-minded defender John Arne Riise.
”The final in 2005 was the best night ever for me personally and to win that trophy was just unbelievable,” said the 26-year-old Norwegian.
”I remember everything from start to finish, and the celebrations afterwards were just amazing.
”All our heads were down at half-time, but the manager was very quiet and calm and explained what we were going to do.
”He said if we got a goal anything can happen. That is what we did and in the end, everything turned out okay.
”Once Steven Gerrard scored with the header [to pull it back to 3-1], you could see the change in the faces of the players. We all seemed to get extra energy and the fans were lifted as well. We knew we had a chance.”
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said he felt his team were better prepared for this final than they were in 2005.
”Let’s hope this time the story has a happy ending,” he said.
”There is little to choose between the two teams, but we are in better shape coming into the final than we were two years ago.”
AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini, who is expected to play in the final despite still being troubled by a left knee injury, played down talk of revenge.
”The fact that we are playing Liverpool again could be seen as our vendetta, but we have nothing personal against them,” said the 38-year-old former Italy international who has lifted the European Cup four times.
”Rather than thinking about them we must concentrate on ourselves and our game.”
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has fully recovered from a shoulder injury and will line up against the Italians, while Harry Kewell’s bid to make the starting line-up has been boosted by an injury to Bolo Zenden.
Dutch midfielder Zenden turned his ankle during a training session in Spain and is doubtful for the match.
AC Milan have opted to wear their all-white strip for the final.
Milan were drawn as the home side for the final and could have worn their famous red and black striped shirts.
But just as in the 2005 final, Milan have chosen their second strip, allowing Liverpool to wear their traditional red kit.
Milan’s white strip had proved lucky before they lost the Istanbul final two years ago. Before that the Serie A giants had
won four European Cups wearing white, in 1963, 1990, 1989 and 2003. — Sapa-AFP