- Liverpool were 3-0 down against Milan in 2005 Champions League final
- Defender Steve Finnan was then forced to come off by thigh injury
- Rafa Benitez was forced to change tactics which inspired comeback
By
David Wood for MailOnline
Published:
00:40 GMT, 26 May 2015
|
Updated:
00:50 GMT, 26 May 2015
Former Liverpool ace Steve Finnan has claimed he was the real hero of the miracle of Istanbul.
The Reds fought back from 3-0 down at half-time to beat AC Milan on penalties and lift the Champions League trophy in 2005
And defender Finnan insists his injury was the game changer as it forced manager Rafa Benitez to change his tactics.
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek lifts the Champions League trophy after victory over MIlan in 2005 final
‘I always say I changed the game that night,’ Finnan told the Liverpool Echo.
‘If I hadn’t have got injured, we wouldn’t have won the European Cup. That injury I got was the best thing that ever happened to Liverpool.’
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Finnan suffered a thigh strain during the first-half and physio Dave Galley informed Benitez that he would have to come off.
Benitez had initially planned to substitute Djimi Traore but he stayed on. Finnan was replaced by Didi Hamann with the Reds switching to three at the back.
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso scores the equaliser against Milan in 2005 Champions League final
‘At the time I wasn’t happy but it was the right decision. With me coming off, Rafa changed the system. Didi was so important to the comeback that followed.
‘I was having treatment so I missed all three of our goals,’ he recalled.
‘But I knew what was happening. I could tell from the roars. I knew it was us scoring because the noise was so great.
‘It was surreal. By the time I got back out to watch it was 3-3.
Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek saves from Andriy Shevchenko to win the penalty shootout
‘There was a real mixture of emotions. I was gutted to have to come off in a European Cup final but so happy that we were back in the game. At half-time the fear was we might lose by five or six.
‘Once Jerzy (Dudek) saved the decisive penalty in the shootout, the celebrations were amazing.
‘I played in most of the games leading up to the final and then to win the Champions League with Liverpool was the greatest night of my career.’
Liverpool defender Steve Finnan was forced off at half-time by thigh injury
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