Rafa: How Istanbul miracle was created
Rafael Benitez has explained exactly how he helped Liverpool overturn a 3-0 half-time deficit to claim the European Cup 10 years ago today.
Hopes of a fifth crown looked to have been dashed just 45 minutes into a showpiece meeting with AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005, as Benitez's team trailed to Paolo Maldini's opener and a Hernan Crespo double at the break.
Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea had failed to halt the Reds' march in the three previous rounds, but it looked like facing the Italians would prove a step too far.
Spurred on by the fans, however, Liverpool launched a remarkable comeback, scoring three goals in six minutes to turn the game on its head.
A remarkable show of defensive grit and sheer desire followed, as the underdogs took the match to a period of extra-time that looked unlikely at half-time.
And, when Jerzy Dudek got a hand to Andriy Shevchenko's penalty in the shootout, it was confirmed that the cup would come home for keeps.
Speaking in the final episode of 'The Road To Istanbul', then Reds boss Benitez has shed more light on what took place in the dressing room at the Ataturk Stadium to help launch the fightback.
The Spaniard revealed that he almost sent 12 players out for the second period, why Steve Finnan was unhappy with him, and the vital mistake made by AC Milan.
Benitez said: "My English wasn't as it is now, so I had to write and think - and then we conceded the third goal.
"It was even more difficult to get a message across at half-time and I was just concentrating on what to say, how to say it, not making mistakes with my words and trying to put emotion in the speech to give the players something to believe.
"I was telling Pako Ayesteran the fitness coach to prepare Didi Hamann because I wanted to change the shape of the team.
"Normally, you leave one or two minutes for the players to rest, drink, think a little bit and after the message was very clear.
"We worked so hard to be here and there's nothing to lose now. We have to try, we have to score one goal, work hard and the game will change - that was the idea.
"The difficult thing was after all these words I said for [Djimi] Traore to go for a shower and I went to see Finnan. The physio told me he cannot play the rest of the game, you have to change him, for sure.
"So we have the substitution of Harry Kewell [23 minutes in], this one of Traore, and then I think 'OK, change'.
"I changed Finnan for Traore, and Finnan was not very happy with the physio and not very happy with me.
"We played three at the back instead of Finnan on the right side and I have to protect the right so I put Cisse there [and someone said]: 'No, boss, with Cisse we have 12'. OK, fine, so I took him out.
"So it was just the last minute of the team talk we changed the tactics and we gave the message to our players.
"We went out with this idea that we have to score a goal, we have to come back in the game, and I couldn't hear the fans in the dressing room but going outside you could feel the atmosphere again.
"Talking with people from AC Milan now they say that they had ['Champions of Europe'] shirts ready, so that was one of the mistakes they made."
Benitez, who is now in charge of Italian side Napoli, also expressed his view that the 2005 final will never be topped.
He continued: "To win the Champions League, on penalties, in the way that we did it, I think it was amazing.
"It will always be the best final ever. I don't think they can change this, it doesn't matter if you win 1-0 in the last minute.
"To go from 3-0 down to extra-time, to penalties and the way we did it, it's the best final."