‘Come on, no chance’: Ex-Reds boss Rafa Benitez insists Istanbul miracle was better than Liverpool’s remarkable comeback against Barcelona
- Rafa Benitez’s team trailed 3-0 at half-time to AC Milan in the Champions League
- Benitez watched his old club overturn the same scoreline on Tuesday evening
- Benitez also noted a television poll which asked the same question this week
Rafa Benitez says there is ‘no chance’ of Liverpool’s comeback against Barcelona ever being better than his side’s ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ in 2005.
The Spaniard’s team trailed 3-0 at half-time to AC Milan in the Champions League final but clawed back the deficit before winning on penalties.
Benitez watched his old club overturn the same scoreline in the second leg of their semi-final on Tuesday with a 4-0 victory at Anfield.
Rafa Benitez says Liverpool’s comeback against Barcelona was not better than Istanbul miracle
But he is in no doubt as to which of the two carries more merit.
‘Come on, no chance,’ he said when asked if Jurgen Klopp’s team had outdid his own.
‘It is very clear. You have 45 minutes, 3-0 against AC Milan, the best team, miles away from anyone, the fans singing at half-time, the Milan fans so happy. Then you go and you score three goals in six minutes and Jerzy Dudek’s save, and then you go to extra time and then penalties… Better than that? Come on.
‘The comeback, the atmosphere, the emotions… no chance, (the best) is Istanbul. This one (Barcelona), is it a great performance? A great game? Yes, fine, that is good.
‘They’ve done really well with a great performance, but Istanbul is another thing.’
Benitez also noted a television poll which asked the same question this week.
‘Who won the poll?’ he said. ‘It was very clear, only 33 per cent (said Barcelona).’
Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 to reach the Champions League final on Tuesday night
Liverpool fought back from 3-0 down to win the Champions League final in 2005