Former AC Milan defender Kakhaber Kaladze has revealed he knew that they would get revenge on Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final after learning their lesson in 2005.
The former defender has been speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, relayed by Milan News, about playing in three Champions League finals with the club during his time there.
Two of them saw the Italian giants taking on Liverpool, the first in Istanbul in 2005, when Liverpool famously came back from 3-0 down to win on penalties in one of the best finals in the history of the competition.
The two sides met again in the final in 2007 and it was Milan who came out on top this time around, with a double from Filippo Inzaghi securing a 2-1 win and Milan’s seventh European crown.
Unlike in Istanbul there was no comeback on the cards for Rafa Benitez’s side, who were outclassed by their Italian counterparts throughout.
Kaladze, who was a second half substitute in the game for Marek Jankulovski, insists he knew the result would go as it did.
“Two different realities. The first time I had just arrived in Milan, and you can imagine the tension that has been building inside you for days before the game,” he said.
“The one with Juventus was a match for the history books of football; for the way it was played, for the way it was resolved and for the atmosphere that had been created in Manchester with our fans.
“The one in Istanbul, as has been said many times, was a surreal final because of the way it ended, the ball just wouldn’t go in… I remember in extra time a shot from Sheva with a clear shot and their goalkeeper caught it with part of his wrist and the ball unbelievably went up and out.
“In penalties we arrived mentally tired and unfortunately it ended as we know. The third final was the game of the solidity of the team, concentrated.
“A total concentration I would say: having met them two years before, we knew what Liverpool was like and mentally we were perfect.”
