Probable teams

Milan: Dida; Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini; Kaká, Clarence Seedorf; Filippo Inzaghi.

Liverpool: Pepe Reina; Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, John Arne Riise; Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Boudewijn Zenden/Harry Kewell; Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt.

PRESS conference - LIVERPOOL

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez wants his side calm and confident for tomorrow. Jermaine Pennant sees Athens as a great honour and John Riise is optimistic


Rafael Benitez had this to say from the pre-match press conference in Athens: ‘We are here because we have been doing the right things and we deserve to be here. Zenden has some problems, while Kewell is ready to play the entire 90 minutes. Our players are focused and motivated. It’s not easy to play two finals in three years and we should be proud. The secret of my great success in European competitions? My staff are the key. We have good people, good workers. When you have a good staff then you can be successful. Of course we have good players as well. Everything is good. Our motivations are the same as Milan. I don’t know if Bellamy will play or if Crouch will play. I still have to think about it. We have two or three different options, I will decide later on after training. It’s going to be a tough match. The final two years ago was incredible, the best final of all-time. But I don't want to go through that kind of match again because I think I'd need a doctor this time! I don’t know if I will give a watch to my wife at the end of the match, that depends on what the players do. My players are more or less on a similar level as that of two years ago. We are preparing all the details like two years ago. Ancelotti? He is an excellent coach. As for me, I have excellent assistants and I am trying to analyse every aspect. Gerrard and Carragher are very important players, but for me the key is the team spirit, not just one player. I am sorry that there aren’t tickets for all of our fans. I think the team who scores first might have a slightly better chance.’

Liverpool midfielder Jermaine Pennant also spoke at the pre-match press conference: ‘It's a great honour to be involved. Many players would love to play in a game of this level and just being here is already a great success. This is my first year at Liverpool, I have gotten used to the coach’s tactics and have come to understand my team-mates. I will try to do better next year. Hopefully I can repay Liverpool’s faith in me if I’m picked tomorrow. I will give 110%. Milan are in excellent physical form, they showed that against Manchester United.’

Liverpool defender John Riise was there beside coach Benitez and team-mate Pennant to speak in the pre-match press conference: ‘We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and we have confidence in our winning the final. Our qualification over Barcelona during this Champions League journey reinforced our conviction. We are stronger and more experienced than we were two years ago. We have better players and we will demonstrate that. Milan want revenge and we will respect them just like we know that they respect us, but tomorrow night we will be thinking only about ourselves. What happened two years ago in Istanbul doesn’t give us any psychological advantages. Kakà is the top goalscorer in the Champions League, but Milan are more than just Kakà. As for me, I play for the team not for the goals. We trained in the heat in Spain, but it’s a bit colder here.’

PRESS conference - MILAN

Speaking at the pre-game press conference, Carlo Ancelotti has put Istanbul behind him. Paolo Maldini is proud to be captain for such a side and Ricky Kakà hope to write another page in the history books

ATHENS - CARLO ANCELOTTI - It will not be easy, but I have no doubts we will give everything. All my decisions have been made. On a purely technical level perhaps Milan were stronger two years ago and for that side it was almost ‘normal’ to reach the Final. For today’s team it is extraordinary and we want to end this year on a high. We deserved this final more than any other side because we suffered like nobody else. We had points penalties and had to rush our pre-season training to prepare for the preliminary round. If we have the fortune to lift the trophy, then it will be absolutely and totally deserved. This has been the most difficult season in my time at Milan. We ran into problems we had never encountered before, but the great unity between myself, the team and club proved decisive. Steven Gerrard is charismatic, but you cannot base your match on one player. Liverpool, like Milan, have many other qualities. Our opponents are Liverpool, not Gerrard. I don’t see myself as the leader of the group, but rather a part of the group. We all come together to answer questions and solve problems. We have worked well and I hope it will be considered even better tomorrow. We never sought alibis or scapegoats, we just tried to resolve our problems together, so what we have been through makes us stronger for this final. We feel very strong in these days leading up to the match. It was here in Athens against AEK that we suffered three injuries, it was the most delicate moment. Being compared to Sacchi and Capello by Doctor Galliani is pleasing. We have all done well. Milan’s presence in this final shows the strength of Italian football and we do feel ourselves a very Italian side.

PAOLO MALDINI - I have never been crazy about looking at history, it difficult to find the comparison with Athens now and in 1994, there are great players, Kakà today, Savicevic then. The Golden Ball is not as important as the final in general. If I can say, no one deserves the Golden Ball more than Kakà. It will be an emotional final even if you manage it differently from when you were 18 or 19. The best image is fitting the cup in Manchester with the whole team behind me. The important thing to get there rather than not. Crouch can be difficult in the air but I want to get out there once again and experience the shiver of excitement you only get in games like this. To be doing this again at this level is something fantastic and I am proud to be captain of a team that is always at these levels.

RICARDO KAKA' - No team plays man-marking at this level. I think that it will be like this tomorrow. I had the chance to win the Champions League two years ago, hopefully I have a great game tomorrow and write my name in the history books. If we can repeat what we did in the first half against Manchester United then it will be difficult to face Milan. Thanks to the example of Maldini and Costacurta, there is always the desire to win. I requested not to play in the Copa America in the interests of the Brazilian national team as I have played every summer for the last three years.

SAME STORY DIFFERENT PLACE

Two years on from the drama of Istanbul, AC Milan and Liverpool FC will meet again in the UEFA Champions League final with revenge on Milanese minds. Carlo Ancelotti's side may be considered slight favourites but with Liverpool aiming to prove lightning can strike twice there is no danger of the Rossoneri taking anything for granted given the unforgettable circumstances of their opponents' 2005 triumph in Turkey. As if anyone needed reminding, Milan surrendered a 3-0 half-time lead as Rafael Benítez's team fought back to claim a 3-3 draw before winning on penalties.

• The Athens Olympic Stadium - otherwise known as the OACA Spyro Louis Stadium - is the setting for this showdown between two of the continent's most successful clubs and for a Milan team plotting revenge, the choice of venue may be considered a lucky one. It was here, after all, that the Rossoneri beat FC Barcelona 4-0 in the 1994 UEFA Champions League final.

• Between them, Milan and Liverpool have won eleven of the 51 previous editions of the European Champion Clubs' Cup. For Milan victory would bring their seventh European crown while Liverpool can make it six. Only nine-times winners Real Madrid CF have enjoyed more success in the competition than this pair.

• Milan are contesting their eleventh final and previously lifted the European Cup in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003. The Rossoneri were runners-up in 1958, 1993, 1995 and 2005. Only Madrid have appeared in more finals (12).

• This is Liverpool's seventh European Cup final and their five successes were in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 2005. Their sole losing final appearance came in 1985.

• Every time Liverpool have lifted the cup they have worn their home colours and beaten opponents wearing white. Although Milan were in white in Istanbul, they still regard the colour as lucky after five previous triumphs wearing their change strip in 1963, 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003.

• On an individual level, Milan's Paolo Maldini could claim his fifth winners' medal following victories with the Rossoneri in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003. He will equal Paco Gento's record of eight final appearances in Athens and Gento is one of only three players in history to have enjoyed more success in the competition: the Real Madrid CF legend has six wins to his name while former colleagues Alfredo di Stéfano and José María Zárraga have five each.

• If Maldini has followed his father Cesare in winning the European Cup with Milan, Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is aiming to go one better than his own father, Miguel, who finished on the losing side with Club Atlético de Madrid in their 1974 final against FC Bayern München.

• Both Ancelotti and Benítez have led their teams to this trophy once before, Ancelotti in 2003 and Benítez in 2005. In the Milan coach's case he is one of only five men to have lifted the European Cup as both a player and manager, following three triumphs with Milan in his playing days.

• Another of Milan's European Cup history-makers is Clarence Seedorf, who is the only player to have won the competition with three different clubs: AFC Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998) and Milan (2003).

• This is the two clubs' first meeting since their remarkable first encounter in the Istanbul final on 25 May 2005. Milan took a first-minute lead that night through Maldini, the quickest goal in a final, and they struck twice more before the break through Hernán Crespo (39, 44). Liverpool responded with three goals in a stunning spell from Steven Gerrard (54), Vladimír Šmicer (56) and Xabi Alonso (60) and the English team won the ensuing shoot-out 3-2, with Jerzy Dudek the hero after saving Andriy Shevchenko's spot-kick.

• The full details of the shoot-out were:Serginho, missed; Hamann, 0-1; Pirlo, saved; Cissé, 0-2; Tomasson, 1-2; Riise, saved; Kaká, 2-2; Šmicer, 2-3; Shevchenko, saved.

• The teams in Istanbul were: Milan: Dida; Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini; Gennaro Gattuso (Rui Costa, 112), Andrea Pirlo, Kaká, Clarence Seedorf (Serginho, 86); Andriy Shevchenko, Hernán Crespo (Jon Dahl Tomasson, 85).

• Liverpool: Jerzy Dudek; Steve Finnan (Dietmar Hamann, 46), Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypiä, Djimi Traoré; Luis García, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise; Harry Kewell (Vladimír Šmicer, 23), Milan Baroš (Djibril Cissé, 85).

• Milan advanced to Athens thanks to a 5-3 aggregate victory over Manchester United FC in the semi-finals. After succumbing to a 3-2 first-leg loss at Old Trafford, Milan found the perfect response at San Siro as they won through goals from Kaká (11), Clarence Seedorf (30) and Alberto Gilardino (78).

• For Milan the road to the final began in the third qualifying round where they beat FK Crvena Zvezda both at home (1-0) and away (2-1). After finishing top of Group H - recording three wins, one draw and two defeats – the Italian side overcame Celtic FC in the first knockout round, following up a 0-0 away draw with a 1-0 home success. They then got the better of FC Bayern München in the quarter-finals, drawing 2-2 at home before winning 2-0 away.

• Liverpool's semi-final victims were the same Chelsea FC team they overcame two years earlier en route to Istanbul. After losing the first leg in London 1-0, Daniel Agger's 22nd-minute strike gave Benítez's side an identical victory at Anfield before they completed the victory with a 4-1 shoot-out success.

• Boudewijn Zenden, Alonso, Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all converted their spot-kicks while goalkeeper Reina stopped kicks from Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Geremi. That success means the Merseyside club have lost just one of eleven penalty shoot-outs they have contested in all competitions.

• Liverpool's campaign began in the group stage where they topped Group C with four wins, one draw and one defeat. In the first knockout round they achieved the feat of eliminating holders FC Barcelona, winning on away goals after a 2-1 first-leg victory in Spain and 1-0 loss in the return. The quarter-finals brought a more comfortable passage as they beat PSV Eindhoven 3-0 away and 1-0 at home.

• Greece has proved a happy hunting ground for Milan in the two previous finals they have contested here. It was in Thessaloniki that the Rossoneri defeated another English side, Leeds United AFC, in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, Luciano Chiarugi scoing the only goal after four minutes.

• The OACA Spyro Louis Stadium, meanwhile was the setting for their 4-0 UEFA Champions League final triumph on 18 May 1994 against a Barcelona 'Dream Team' stunned by goals from Daniele Massaro (2), Dejan Savićević and Marcel Desailly. However, it was at this same stadium earlier this season that Milan suffered their first defeat on Greek soil, going down 1-0 to AEK Athens FC in the group stage.

• Liverpool, for their part, have positive memories of their previous two visits to the final venue, winning 1-0 at Panathinaikos FC to secure a 5-0 aggregate success in the 1984/85 European Cup semi-final and then drawing 2-2 against Olympiacos CFP en route to a third-round success in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup – a competition they went on to win.

• The Reds' most recent visit to Greece ended in defeat as they went down 1-0 to Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage.

• Milan's record against English teams reads nine wins, seven draws and eight defeats from 24 matches, with the 2005 final counted as a Rossoneri reverse. They have played two previous UEFA finals against opposition from England, defeating Leeds to win the Cup Winners' Cup in 1973 but losing to Liverpool in Istanbul.

• Liverpool have won seven and lost seven of their 16 previous encounters with Italian opposition - with the final shoot-out victories of 1984 and 2005 counted as two of those successes.

• They have contested three previous UEFA finals against Serie A sides and won two of them. Besides beating Milan in Istanbul, they defeated AS Roma 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 1983/84 European Cup final in Rome. However, they lost 1-0 to Juventus in the final in Brussels the following season.

• Overall there have been five Anglo-Italian UEFA competition finals and the score reads 3-2 in favour of England.

• This is the fifth time that two former final opponents have met again and for Milan the third time they have faced such a rematch.

• Milan got the better of SL Benfica twice in the final, beating the Portuguese side 2-1 in 1963 and 1-0 in 1990. Against Ajax, meanwhile, they recorded a 4-1 victory in 1969 but lost 1-0 when the sides squared off for a second time in the 1995 final.

• The other two final rematches were: Real Madrid CF v Stade de Reims Champagne – 4-3 in 1956; 2-0 in 1959. Ajax v Juventus - 1-0 in 1973; 1-1 (2-4 pens) in 1996.

• The Athens Olympic Stadium has a proud sporting history. Originally constructed for the 1982 European Athletics Championship, the OACA Spyro Louis Stadium was named after the winner of the first Olympic marathon in the Greek capital in 1896 and is located in the north of the city in the municipality of Maroussi. Construction begun in 1980, and it was opened on 8 September 1982, the arena dominated by four leaning pillars at each corner.

• In 2002 the old stadium was closed and, after a major revamp, was re-opened on 30 July 2004 for the Olympic Games. The new Athens Olympic Stadium was noticeable for the twin 304m arches supporting the polycarbonate roof designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and designed to withstand winds of up to 120km/h.

• UEFA President Michel Platini will present the European Champion Clubs' Cup to the winning captain, with UEFA Champions League final ambassador Theodoros Zagorakis assisting in the ceremony. The victorious Greece captain at UEFA EURO 2004™ will first help Mr Platini present medals to the match officials and the losing team, before the winning team step up to claim their medals and the trophy.

Ac Milan - Liverpool FC Road to 2007 Athens Final

SMICER: AWESOME FANS CAN BE THE KEY

Istanbul hero Vladimir Smicer believes Liverpool's 'awesome' supporters can help inspire the Reds to more European glory in Athens.

RIISE: WE'RE MILAN'S NIGHTMARE

John Arne Riise believes Liverpool are AC Milan's worst nightmare because they hate playing against physical sides.

And the Norwegian full-back believes Liverpool will never allow the Italians the freedom to attack they had in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United.

Riise prepares for his second final showdown with Milan next Wednesday in Athens convinced Liverpool can repeat their success of 2005.

Riise and his colleagues are increasingly aware that Milan believe them to be inferior to Manchester United, who the Italians eliminated in the semi-finals.

Their coach Carlo Ancelotti claims Liverpool are the poorest of the four semi-finalists and even United chief Sir Alex Ferguson believes Liverpool have no hope of success.

But Riise said: "We don't really care what people say, we deserve to be in the final. And we know Milan don't like playing against teams like us."

He added: "I heard some things earlier that they think they are the more tactical and we are the more physical side. But we can play football too.

"And they know we are strong and physical and we will use that to our advantage. They hate playing against those sort of teams.

"They looked like they struggled against the physical aspect when they played Bayern Munich earlier in the competition, even though they got through. But it is not something they enjoy facing.

"And we will play our own style of football that has been successful for us, we know that some teams hate to play against us because we play a physical compact type of game. We don't listen to other people because we know what we can do."

And Riise made it clear that Liverpool believe they can blunt the Milan style that caused Manchester United so much trouble in their calamitous second-leg mauling in Milan.

He said: "When they played against United their full-backs were almost like strikers or wingers. That is because United made room for them and gave them space.

"The way we play is quite compact and it will be hard work for their full-backs and wingers to get through.

"If they still attack us that way we will find space to hurt them. We have got the next few days to find their weaknesses and exploit them."

And Riise has faith in boss Rafael Benitez to produce the game plan to win Liverpool's second Champions League crown in three seasons.

"When he picks his team, and he knows who he wants to play, he will talk to every player to say what he expects from them and what the opposition player is going to do.

"Our manager is a tactical genius and he knows how to get his players ready."

But Riise accepts that this final must not start the way the Istanbul match did, when Liverpool were 3-0 down at the break. He said: "We cannot afford a three goal head start this time.

"It was called a miracle because of the comeback, but it can't happen again. This time we will approach the game perfectly and hopefully get a good start."

And Riise recalls Benitez's calmness in the face of that dreadful deficit in 2005. He said: "When you are losing 3-0 at half-time in a game like that you expect to get shouted at by the manager. All our heads were down.

"But the manager was very quiet and calm and explained what we were going to do. He wanted us to lift our heads, which we did. 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, 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. We just had to keep going."

REINA FIT FOR ATHENS SHOWPIECE

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that goalkeeper Jose Reina is fit for next week's Champions League final against AC Milan.

However Benitez has a dilemma over who to play on each flank in Athens.

Reina injured a shoulder at Fulham and was left out of the final home league game against Charlton as a precaution.

But the Spanish star has trained normally all week in La Manga to dispel fears he would struggle to face Milan on Wednesday.

But Benitez, who returns from Spain with his squad on Saturday, accepts his key problems involve the wings.

He said: "We certainly have options on both wings, these are the areas I am having to consider carefully. This involves Bolo (Zenden), Harry (Kewell) and Jermaine (Pennant) and I have not yet made my decision."

Kewell's recent return to fitness after a season out recovering from groin operations, has placed him in Benitez's thoughts for the key left-wing role.

Kewell is believed to have trained well in Spain this week, but Benitez must decide whether he will have enough match fitness to oust Zenden, who played in both semi-final legs against Chelsea.

Zenden is out of contract this summer, and whether he has a longer-term future with the club will depend on Benitez's decision over the European final.

Benitez must also decide whether Pennant plays on the right, but he has no intention of giving any indication on that because it would instantly confirm that Steven Gerrard will play in his favoured central midfield role.

The manager could also use John Arne Riise on the left of midfield with Alvaro Arbeloa at full-back.

Benitez has only Luis Garcia and Fabio Aurelio on the injured list, although Mohamed Sissoko's chances of playing have been handicapped by injury.

Benitez told Liverpoolfctv: "Jerzy Dudek is also fit after a groin problem, so both my goalkeepers will be okay. Sissoko has started training and we will see, but I think all are okay."

Benitez added: "We looked at all the players in the training camp and in every training session people were talking about Harry Kewell.

"He played well for half an hour against Charlton but we needed to see whether he is fit and then decide if he can play from the start or not. There's a lot for me to decide yet.

"What I know at the moment is that we are focused and we will be ready. The players are really thinking about this game and you could see in previous matches that as much as you tried to push them, their minds were already on the final.

"The only thing we can do now is to prepare properly for the game and approach it with confidence because it's easy to become nervous or stressed."
Team Talk 18 May 2007

KUYT: I'LL ACCEPT RAF JUSTICE

Dirk Kuyt knows Rafa Benitez will break a few hearts in Athens next week - and one of them could be his.

But even if he finds himself left out of the starting line-up for the Champions League Final, the Dutchman insists his trust in the Liverpool manager will remain intact.

He believes he won't be alone in accepting without complaint Benitez's selection for the rematch with AC Milan, because the Spaniard has created the collective will for success that is more important than any individual.

Benitez, of course, is famous for his rotation philosophy - having once changed his team 99 times in a row before sticking with the same side.

But Kuyt, who scored the decisive penalty in the semi-final shoot-out with Chelsea, declares that his manager's record is now so impressive that it cannot be questioned.

He said: "So far, I've played in most of the big games and I am very happy about that. But that doesn't mean anything. We are in the Final and the manager will have his ideas.

"Like everybody, I would love to play in the Final, but it's the choice of the boss and you can never tell what is going to happen with him.

"Look at Xabi Alonso. He was not in the starting lineup for the second leg with Chelsea and I am sure he was not very happy, because he might have expected to play.

"But you have to accept these things and I believe everybody does."

That mentality, stresses Kuyt, is why Liverpool were able to overcome not only Chelsea but Barcelona to get to the Final.

He added: "Look at what we did against Chelsea. Maybe they have some better players than us and maybe individually they are better in a technical way.

"But as a team we showed we are the best and that is what must now happen in Athens.

"The most important factor about Rafa is that he is a winner. The technical staff are the same and they have got through to us that we have to be winners too.

"So I do not think there is one player who does not agree with what he does. We have come to understand that sometimes players have to be left out, but that is the strength of the squad now.

"The manager has made us strong, because we know how strong he is and what is important to him.

"He is certainly the best I've ever had, because he is not only technically strong, but is a real team manager.

"He tries to manage the team as one whole thing, not dealing with individuals as others might do. So we know that when he makes a decision it is for the whole team, for all of us, because he wants the team to win. And that means all of us.

"Xabi didn't start against Chelsea at Anfield, but maybe he will play in the Final and I will not.

"But that is the way it is, the way it has to be. And because it is someone like Benitez who has proved he is such a very good manager, then we accept it. It is because everybody believes in him.

"Sometimes the decisions he makes for games are not good for you, because it means you are not playing. But in the end, if you want to win the trophies, we know that is the way it has to be."

DUDEK: RAFA WILL WIN TITLE

Departing Liverpool hero Jerzy Dudek is confident Rafael Benitez will one day win the Premiership title with the Reds.

With Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina nursing a shoulder injury and unlikely to be risked ahead of the Champions League final this month, Dudek could well deputise against relegated Charlton on Sunday.

Whether this will also be Robbie Fowler's final goodbye to the club - his contract is unlikely to be renewed - is still not clear, but the final Premier League game of the season could well be an emotional affair.

Dudek has already decided to leave when his contract runs out in the summer, and the man who became a hero in Istanbul with his penalty shoot-out performance will probably now play the last of 187 appearances for the club he joined in 2002.

And the 34 year-old said: "We are all happy with the way we have played in the Premiership in the second-half of the season and I feel we are not too far away from winning it.

"Rafa knows what he has to do to take the club across the finishing line. If he is able to bring in quality players in the summer in one or two key positions, then we will be very close next season.

"If it doesn't happen next year, then the Premiership will be at Liverpool soon."

He added: "It makes me a little sad that I won't be here on the pitch to enjoy a title success but I will be watching from wherever I am. I will be as happy as any supporter from the Kop."

Benitez is likely to field a much stronger side that the one that lost 1-0 at Fulham last weekend, effectively gifting the west-Londoners three points that have kept them in the division.

Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano, Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt were all rested from that match, allowing Harry Kewell to make his first appearance of the season.

All are likely to face Charlton, particularly Kewell who is now trying desperately to prove his fitness ahead of the Athens final against AC Milan on May 23.

But Benitez will again want to give run-outs to some of his younger players, and reserve defender Jack Hobbs - substitute in the Portsmouth and Fulham matches - could well make his debut.

Riise: Agger Our Best Player This Year

John Arne Riise believes that Daniel Agger has been Liverpool's stand-out player this season.



zoom - galleria The young Danish international has come on in leaps and bounds this season, forming one of Europe's meanest centre-half partnerships with Jamie Carragher.

The latter has been voted as the Reds' best player by fans on the club's official site, but Riise has lavished praise on the young Scandinavian instead.

"I think Dan has been brilliant for us this year," he said on the club's website. "He's come in, found a place for himself in the team and played well enough to stay there.

"Pepe Reina has also had a great season and been absolutely brilliant for us but if I had to pick our Player of the Year then it would be Daniel.

"I can't believe he got some stick after the first Chelsea match, because I thought he had a good game, but then he proved at Anfield what a quality player he is.

"He's still young and he's going to be a big player for us for many years to come."

His biggest challenge of the season, however, is yet to come. If he can come good again in Athens, he could well be a part of Liverpool's magical European history.

Reds complain over ticket share

Liverpool have complained to UEFA over their ticket allocation for the Champions League final but have been told they will not receive an increase.

The Premiership club have been awarded 17,000 seats for the clash with AC Milan at the 63,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Athens on May 23 - a figure that nowhere near appeases enormous demand - and a huge black market for tickets has already developed.

Liverpool have been criticised by their own fans for their methods of distribution, with some having made arrangements to travel only to be told they will not qualify for a ticket, but a statement from Liverpool given to to BBC Radio Five Live read: "The bottom line is UEFA have not supplied anywhere near enough tickets for the Champions League Final."

It continued: "Liverpool have expressed their disappointment and frustration to UEFA - but have been told categorically no more tickets will be allocated to the club, not even the returned tickets from Milan - they will go into a UEFA ballot.

"Liverpool Football Club understands and shares the disappointment of their fans in what is a very frustrating situation. Our policy on tickets was available right from the start of the season and has not changed.

"The ballot for Liverpool fans was drawn up to be as fair as possible to fans, but the bottom line is UEFA have not supplied enough tickets for the match."

RAFA: PLAYERS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING

RAFA: PLAYERS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING
Paul Eaton 09 May 2007
Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool's midfield stars will accept the increased competition for places next season.
Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano were selected in the centre of the field against Chelsea last week, with Xabi Alonso among the substitutes and Momo Sissoko not in the squad.

The Liverpool boss knows more selection headaches will face him during the next campaign but he has confidence the players understand his way of thinking.

"The players know me," said Benitez. "They know I can change one or two players but that doesn't mean I am disappointed with them.

"I was talking with Sissoko. The last two or three weeks he has had more problems because Mascherano was playing well and Gerrard was in the middle.

"I said to him it was not a problem because we will play 60 games next season and we need a lot of good players. We have injuries also."

Benitez also revealed Spanish star Xabi Alonso accepted the decision to start the crucial Champions League clash with Chelsea on the bench.

"All the players must be a little bit disappointed if they don't play, but they need to have respect for their team-mates. Xabi is a good professional and it is not a problem," he added.

GONZALEZ ON CLOUD NINE

Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez insists he is the happiest he has ever been in his career.

FINNAN: KEWELL COULD STAR IN ATHENS

Steve Finnan believes Harry Kewell could play "a big part" for Liverpool in the Champions League final.

Fulham - Liverpool

rafa - hitman

I WANT REVENGE FOR 2005 - KAKA

AC MILAN midfielder Kaka is relishing the opportunity to avenge the 2005 Champions League final defeat against Liverpool after progressing to the final at the expense of Manchester United.

Milan's 3-0 second leg victory in the semi-final at the San Siro set up a rematch with the Reds, their conquerors two years ago.

United came to Milan with a 3-2 lead from the first leg but were quickly put on the backfoot by the Rossoneri, who scored through Kaka and Clarence Seedorf.

An out-of-sorts United were unable to turn things around and Alberto Gilardino killed the tie in the second half.

"We have played a perfect game," admitted Kaka, who scored three of Milan's five goals in the tie.

"We knew against a team like Manchester United that we needed to do something special and we have achieved it with the help of our fans.

"I am extremely happy with the way the team has played, we were the best side on the pitch and we deserved to go through.

"The final against Liverpool will be a unique game. I sincerely hope it will be different from that of 2005."

Kaka, who is the top scorer in this season's Champions League with 10 goals, brushed aside his heroics and believes team-work was the key to his side's achievement.

"I reiterate that I am not playing at my top level," said the 25-year-old. "I still have a lot to improve on. We have worked really hard this week and we have been rewarded."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: "The first half was intense and our performance allowed us to go on and win.

"We have reached the final three times in five editions.

"We are very happy to be playing in the final and equally happy to face Liverpool. What happened two years ago has no weight on the upcoming final. We want to win it."

GERRARD: I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER

Paul Eaton 04 May 2007

Steven Gerrard speaks exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv about our brilliant victory over Chelsea, the Athens showdown with AC Milan and about the glorious prospect of lifting European football's most glittering trophy for the second time in three seasons.


Liverpoolfc.tv: So, Steven, it's AC Milan yet again in a European final.....

Obviously I'm really looking forward to it and I'm confident we can go there and bring the Cup back home. They're a fantastic team and we know it's going to be really difficult so we need to be right at the top of our game.

What did you make of Milan's display against Manchester United?

I was really surprised actually because I had confidence that United would go there and get the result they required. I thought it was going to be a Liverpool-Man United final but credit to Milan because they were excellent on the night and deserved to win the game.

Did you get the feeling the way they went about the game that they're desperate to win this competition this year to make amends for Istanbul?

I'm sure they do want to make amends because I'm sure Istanbul hurt them. They have a chance for revenge now but me and the boys are going to be ready for that and we're looking forward to it. They have some quality players like Gattuso who work really hard for the team but we'll be ready for them on the night. I'm confident we can beat them.

How excited are you at the prospect of leading Liverpool into another major final?

Obviously I'm very excited. I don't think it's sunk in yet and probably won't until we set off for Athens. We've got a couple of domestic games first before we start our preparations for the big final. We've got nothing to fear, we've been there and done it before, we've got a fantastic team spirit, the team is playing really well in Europe and we've got one of the best managers in the world so we have every confidence that we can do it.

How good was the performance to beat Chelsea and book your place in Athens?

It was a very good and a very mature performance. We didn't rush to score early, we were very careful and patient and eventually the goal came. You have to give this team a lot of credit for beating Chelsea over two legs because they are a superb team full of world class players. It's not just the Chelsea games either, you look back at the Barcelona performances and the games in the group stages and I have to give my teammates a lot of credit.

What have the celebrations been like since the final whistle?

We were relieved and the celebrations began straightaway. The dressing room was a great place to be that night because all the boys were really happy. A lot of hard work has gone into these Champions League performances and so when you're sitting there with a final to look forward to it makes all the extra runs, the tackles, the kicks and the bumps all worthwhile.

The ticket requests haven't started yet but I'm sure they will do really soon. That's part and parcel of reaching the European Cup final and I'm sure all the players will be looking after their family and friends and making sure they get to Greece okay.

How pleased are you for the fans who now have another massive occasion to look forward to?

They deserve it just as much as the players because they have followed us all over Europe again and given us fantastic support. They are there week in and week out backing the team. I don't have to talk about the atmosphere on Tuesday night because it was special and was up there alongside the last time we played Chelsea. They certainly helped us get over the line.

If it's anything like 2005 then you'll definitely have the majority of the support inside the Olympic Stadium...

I'd imagine so. I've seen what the ticket allocations are but somehow Liverpool fans always end up with more. Hopefully they'll give us the same support again and we can go on and win it for them.

How important is it to go on and win the competition again now?

We celebrated after the Chelsea game but we have to forget about that now. We've got two league games to play to make sure we finish third in the league and then we can try and get over that final hurdle in Athens.

How proud are you of all the players who have played a part in reaching Athens this season?

It's not about the people who've scored or about individuals, we've achieved what we have so far because we're all together. The subs who have come on, the players who played in the earlier rounds, they've all played their part.

What about a word for the manager who is proving himself to be something of a genius in Europe?

Rafa's CV speaks for itself and I don't have to tell you how good he is. There's no getting away from it, he's one of the best managers out there. We're just lucky and grateful that he's here and that he's our manager.

How reassuring is to have a manager who you know will put together a tactical plan to try and nullify the Milan threats?

We're aware of Milan's strengths and weaknesses and we'll watch a lot of tapes before the game to make sure our preparations are spot on. We'll go there and try to be really strong defensively like we have been in Europe. They've got top players but then so have we so there's every chance we can go there and win.

How pleased are you also for the new owners who have joined this amazing journey at just the right time?

It's great that the club is moving in the right direction and the future is certainly looking bright under the new owners, but I think David Moores also deserves a mention as well. We're all in it together, the chairman, the directors, the players and the supporters and we all deserve to be in the final. We just all have to pull together again and win this last game.

Did you speak to them after the Chelsea game?

They came in and got involved in the celebrations. They congratulated us which was great. It's important to have a connection between the players and the owners.

Tom Hicks has said he can never imagine Steven Gerrard playing for another club - is he right?

Of course. I'm in talks to extend my contract at Liverpool and I've never been happier with my football. I'd love nothing better than to get this contract sorted and signed, so I can understand where he's coming from. We need to keep all of our big players here so it's very important we get the contracts sorted out so they can be here for a long time.

In less than three weeks time you could be lifting the European Cup again. How does that sound?

To be honest I have thought about it but I know I need to concentrate on my game and on the job I need to do in the final. I need to help my teammates as well so I don't want to think too much about lifting the Cup because it might distract my preparations. Of course, though, it would be a great achievement.

LIVERPOOL V MILAN AGAIN IN FINAL

Liverpool and AC Milan will meet in the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons after the Italians knocked Manchester United out of the competition at the San Siro.

PICTURES FROM A GREAT NIGHT

MOURINHO FALLS TO NEMESIS AGAIN

Another special night at Anfield; another European Cup final. Two in three years under Rafael Benitez and the manager had the extra, rich satisfaction of a victory scored, both on the field and the tactics board, over Jose Mourinho.

Liverpool - Chelsea (1 - 0) RT - Semifinal Ch. League 2007

Liverpool vs Chelsea 01/05/07 CL Penalties

LIVERPOOL 1-0 CHELSEA

Daily Post 02 May 2007


NOW that's what people call history. Another memorable Anfield night, another semi-final win over Chelsea, and another Champions League final for Liverpool.
Like in 2005, the Stamford Bridge outfit felt the power of the famous old stadium as Rafael Benitez continued to cast his spell over Jose Mourinho in Europe. The Portuguese had belittled Liverpool during the build-up to the tie. Bad move. Fired up by those comments, the Liverpool players – backed by a raucous Anfield crowd – made Mourinho regret his outburst with a courageous performance to secure a seventh European Cup final appearance. But while the magnificent support from the stands played its part, this was a victory earned on the pitch. Liverpool levelled the tie through Daniel Agger's well-worked 22nd-minute strike before defending resolutely to keep Chelsea scoreless for 120 minutes to force a penalty shoot-out. Indeed, they had the chances to win the game before the penalties with an erroneous offside decision denying Dirk Kuyt a possible winner during extra time. Mourinho thought otherwise, but he was fooling only himself. Liverpool thoroughly deserve a second Champions League final in three seasons, where AC Milan or Manchester United lie in wait in Athens on May 23. Chelsea could well have been out of sight after a first leg last week in which only a fine performance from goalkeeper Pepe Reina kept Liverpool in with a chance. So it was apt the goalkeeper should assume the mantle of hero last night, saving from both Arjen Robben and Geremi in front of the Anfield Road End to allow Kuyt the poetic justice of stroking home the winning penalty and send the Liverpool players racing towards the Kop. Now Reina is poised to follow in the footsteps of his father, who appeared for Atletico Madrid in their European Cup final against Bayern Munich in 1974. For Liverpool's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, this was the kind of evening for which they’d paid their millions. Both were in attendance, Gillett even coming down to the front of the directors' box before kick-off to shake hands with fans, sign autographs and have pictures taken. He ended the evening by being drenched with champagne after joining Liverpool's jubilant players in the dressing room. Gillett, like Hicks, has been well and truly bitten by the Anfield bug. Mourinho reckoned he was worthy of a round of applause from the Anfield crowd for his belatedly flattering comments on Liverpool. There was, however, about as much chance of that happening as the street vendor outside the ground shifting many of his puzzling Liverpool/Chelsea scarf combinations. Not for the first time, Benitez's tactics and line-up were spot on while Chelsea floundered with depressing long-ball tactics towards the increasingly ineffective Didier Drogba. While the Premiership remains Mourinho's domain, the Portuguese has been continually outsmarted by Benitez in Europe. The Liverpool manager had raised eyebrows by naming Bolo Zenden in midfield at the expense of Alonso who, having missed the corresponding fixture in 2005 through suspension, began on the bench. Zenden will have won a whole army of new admirers after a fine display against his former team. Alonso emerged in the second half to complement a midfield in which Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano dominated Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and John Obi Mikel. Steve Finnan returned at right-back after missing the last four games with a neck injury, while Peter Crouch partnered Kuyt in attack – the same pairing that tormented Chelsea during Liverpool's 2-0 Premiership win here in January. Like the rest of Benitez's men, the pair ran themselves into the ground with a heroic effort. The Kop was in full voice long before kick-off, and the teams were greeted with a deafening wall of noise akin to that of 2005. While Luis Garcia netted in the fifth minute that evening, the home team had to wait until the 22nd minute to go ahead on the night and level the tie. At least there was no debate about whether it had crossed the line this time. Joe Cole netted the only goal last Wednesday to capitalise on Liverpool's sluggish start, but he was partially responsible for his team going behind after upending Steven Gerrard on the left for a free-kick. In a move straight from the training ground, Gerrard rolled the ball across for the approaching Agger to sidefoot through a group of players from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. Given Agger was heavily criticised being given the runaround by Drogba last week, it was small wonder the Danish centre-back celebrated with such gusto. It was a lead Liverpool merited for a vibrant, high-tempo opening as Chelsea stuck men behind the ball and booted long for Drogba, a defensive tactic Mourinho persisted with all night. Drogba then demonstrated both sides to his game as Chelsea finally began to build some momentum. First, the Ivorian embarrassingly writhed on the turf after being breathed on by Agger, and then solicited a fine block from Reina after Mascherano had given the ball away to Mikel. Chelsea came close again five minutes before half-time when Essien couldn't turn the ball home at the far post after Drogba had headed on a Frank Lampard corner, the effort striking the shoulder of the makeshift centre-back. Liverpool had the next opening on 56 minutes when neat trickery by Jermaine Pennant – the winger an outstanding performer before succumbing to injury – created space for a cross to the far post for Crouch, whose header was blocked by Petr Cech's legs before the ball was hacked away by John Terry. And they were closer moments later when John Arne Riise's left-wing cross was headed on to the crossbar by Kuyt with the Czech international keeper beaten. Drogba then succeeded in earning Agger a caution with some more simulation shenanigans before Liverpool carved out another opening, Terry misjudging a long pass but the ball wouldn't come down quick enough for Pennant, allowing Essien to race over and block his shot. The tension was tangible, especially when, on a rare Chelsea sortie, Ashley Cole found space behind the Liverpool defence and his low cross was turned over by Jamie Carragher inside the six-yard box with Drogba loitering. Zenden struck a 20-yard drive Cech clutched at the second attempt, but no more scoring meant Liverpool chartered new territory at Anfield in this competition with an extra-time period. If Chelsea were tiring from their efforts chasing the quadruple, it didn't show. Liverpool were then deprived of a perfectly good goal on 100 minutes when Alonso's piledriver was parried out to Kuyt, who rattled home. The assistant referee ruled the Dutchman was in an offside position when the initial shot came in; television replays showed otherwise. Benitez's side almost won it with two minutes remaining when Robbie Fowler, on for the exhausted Javier Mascherano, laid the ball off for Kuyt only for Cech to beat out the Dutchman's shot. The finale was so nerve-wracking that Benitez's wife Montse was praying in her seat in the directors' box and looking at the Kop instead of the spot-kicks as the players prepared for the decisive shoot-out. Then came the penalties. Athens need now prepare for a Scouse invasion. LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise; Pennant (Alonso 78), Gerrard, Mascherano (Fowler 118), Zenden; Crouch (Bellamy 106), Kuyt. Subs: Padelli, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Gonzalez. BOOKINGS: Agger and Zenden (both fouls). CHELSEA (4-1-4-1): Cech; Ferreira, Essien, Terry, A Cole; Makelele (Geremi 118); J Cole (Robben 98), Obi Mikel, Lampard, Kalou; Drogba (Wright-Phillips 107). Subs: Cudicini, Bridge, Boulahrouz, Diarra. BOOKING: A Cole (foul). REFEREE: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).

REINA PUTS REDS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

The Guardian 02 May 2007

Penalties are supposed to be fickle but they have turned into Liverpool's steadfast ally.

Liverpool won the 2005 Champions League in that fashion and go to Athens on May 23 by the same method. The sturdy victors will not go to Greece bearing gifts in their seventh final. Manchester United or Milan beware. It would be misleading to refer to the luck of a shoot-out.

Only four were needed by Rafael Beni­tez's men here, with Dirk Kuyt converting the decisive kick after Arjen Robben and Geremi had been thwarted by Pepe Reina as Chelsea nerves succumbed to the animosity of Anfield in this second leg. With the Premiership slipping from them, Jose Mourinho's players have only an FA Cup final to raise their spirits.

Such an occasion, with a Carling Cup already in the trophy room, would once have made for a heady campaign at Chelsea. That is no longer the case and as the dejection lingers there will be renewed questions about Roman Abramovich's commitment to retaining his manager.

All that Liverpool need reflect upon, with joy, is the way in which they thrive in this form of football. It looked as if there could be nothing problematic about a takeover by Americans when George Gillett, the co-owner, was shaking hands with fans in front of the directors' box at full-time.

It cannot be said with complete conviction that either club deserved to edge the semi-final. Chelsea could have settled the tie in London but were restricted to a 1-0 win. Considering that Beni­tez has not enjoyed such investment in his squad as Mourinho, there is good cause to respect Liverpool for the way in which they have denied Chelsea, just as they did two years ago in the Champions League last four.

Mourinho may almost suspect that an adversary has his measure in one competition at least. Liverpool levelled the tie on aggregate with Daniel Agger's goal in the 22nd minute. Outstanding as the back four marshalled by Jamie Carragher were against the visitors, there was a shortfall in creativity for a side with Chelsea's aspirations.

They had no outstanding chance and Liverpool came the closer to devising the second goal of the night when Kuyt hit the bar. The two sides resemble each other, but Benitez has little option but to be pragmatic. This outcome, on the other hand, showed Chelsea that flair is not some kind of decadent luxury. Creativity was essential if Chelsea were to ward off the shoot-out and they displayed too little of it.

At least their resolve is never to be doubted. These sides grappled with each other so fiercely that it was as if neither would ever let the other go to the final. Agger's goal was the first composed piece of play and even then it had required the pause of a free-kick for thoughts to be gathered.

Joe Cole, a booking short of suspension, may have been relieved when the referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez did not wag a yellow card for his foul on Steven Gerrard, but the clemency ceased there. Liverpool's punishment was draconian. With Chelsea, in the absence of the injured Ricardo Carvalho, steeling themselves for a high ball to the head of Peter Crouch, Liverpool's sucker punch caught them flush on the chin.

Gerrard pulled the free-kick back low and the onrushing Agger swept a shot low into the net at the near post with a sweet swing of his left foot. The centre-half had suffered at Stamford Bridge and this was an ideal reprisal. His anxieties, all the same, were not at an immediate end.
Didier Drogba was around once more to keep him anxious. After 32 minutes, a pass from Mikel John Obi slipped the Ivorian striker in behind Agger but his drive was hit from an angle and, strong as it was, there was no hope of getting it past Reina.

Andriy Shevchenko sat watching from the stands, the conjecture still swirling about the seriousness of the groin injury that had kept him out of the game. It would be glib, none the less, to say that Chelsea missed their Ukraine striker. The Premiership champions never quite mustered the slickness to provide the service all forwards crave.

Benitez's players, in the opening phase of the second half, were conscious that it was by attacking that they could best disrupt Chelsea. Jermaine Pennant, up against a resourceful left-back in Ashley Cole, did get a deep, testing cross over after 56 minutes and Crouch leapt above Paulo Ferreira for a header which was blocked by the legs of Petr Cech.

With 59 minutes gone, John Arne Riise delivered from the left and a Kuyt header smacked the crossbar. Chelsea's alarm was great and that sort of incident gnawed at them. In the 71st minute, John Terry misjudged a long ball which skidded off his head and Pennant's drive ricocheted from the makeshift centre-back Michael Essien for a corner.

Carragher had to come up with the means of putting an Ashley Cole cut-back over his own crossbar after 76 minutes. Liverpool always produced whatever was needed to survive and, ultimately, to prevail.

How the penalties played out:

Zenden Scored. He sends Cech the wrong way. (Liverpool 1 - 0 Chelsea)

Robben Missed. Reina saves, diving to his left. (Liverpool 1 - 0 Chelsea)

Alonso Scored. Cech guesses correctly, but can't quite reach the low shot. (Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea)

Lampard Scored. He smashes it down the middle. (Liverpool 2 - 1 Chelsea)

Gerrard Scored. He coolly slots it to Cech's left. (Liverpool 3 - 1 Chelsea)

Geremi Missed. Reina saves to his right. (Liverpool 3 - 1 Chelsea)

Kuyt Scored. He drills it low to Cech's right. (Liverpool 4 - 1 Chelsea)