Substituted at half-time in Istanbul, Steve Finnan didn't even see Liverpool's amazing comeback but that didn't stop him enjoying the most remarkable night in the club's history, as he explains in this Champions League final interview.
Steve, here we go again - two year's on and we're in another European Cup Final…
"It's great, isn't it? It's comes around quickly and two in three years is a good achievement but it would be fantastic if we can win it again. The lads are looking forward to it, we're getting the preparation right and we're all buzzing for the game.
What did Istanbul in 2005 mean to you personally because there must have been an element of disappointment after having to come off at half-time?
It was disappointing to get injured and then I missed all of our three goals and because I was still in the changing rooms. I came back out for the remainder of the game but when you are involved in a game like that, it's just about winning. Fortunately we are back in the final again and it's all about the club not me.
Can you talk us through your emotions at half-time on that night?
Being 3-0 down, there wasn't much being said in the dressing room. It was just a case of we've just got to give it a go now and see what happens. As I say, I missed our three goals but then I came back out and I remember AC Milan putting us under a bit of pressure. Jerzy made a couple of saves and then obviously the penalties were dramatic and we won the game in the end.
You say you missed the goals but did you know they were being scored by Liverpool?
I could here them and I knew it was us that was scoring because of the amount of noise that was being made. It happened so quickly and I just didn't have time to get out there.
Having missed out on being part of that fantastic comeback, do you think this final actually means more to you than some of your team-mates?
No, not really because it's not just about the 11 players. It's all about the club winning and it's just nice to play your part.
Everybody thought it was going to be Liverpool and Manchester United in the final but AC Milan obviously hadn't read the script. What did you make of their performance against United?
They played really well and looked good. Hopefully we won't give them the sort of room and time that Manchester United did. To be honest, I think it was probably a combination of them playing very well and Manchester United not playing well. Hopefully we can keep things a little bit tighter than United did. Yes, we know they are a quality team and what they are capable of but, like I said before, if we prepare right and focus on what we have to do then hopefully we can win the game.
Normally when you talk about the opposition, you tend to think about the strikers - particularly from a defensive point of view - but everyone is talking about Kaka as the man who can really pull the strings for Milan…
Definitely and everyone knows a lot about him. He's a fantastic player and is certainly one that our defence has to look out for. They have other quality players besides Kaka though. He is their main threat going forward but they have other players who are capable of scoring and creating chances.
With no Andriy Shevchenko and no Hernan Crespo, is there a feeling that you are stronger in defence than you were two years ago and Milan are weaker in attack?
I feel we have improved as a squad and have done very well defensively over the last couple of years. Overall, as a squad, I think we are stronger. It would be wrong for me to say they are weaker because they have got quality players and they still have a few who played in 2005. They have got experience for these sorts of games but I just think we are stronger as a squad and hopefully that may give us a little bit of an advantage that we can build on.
Are you happy with the underdog status again?
I suppose with the way they beat Manchester United in the second leg, people will have them down as favourites. It's not such a bad thing for us being underdogs though. It's not too often we are but, in a game like this, it doesn't matter.
Istanbul was a bit of a freaky game. Do you think this one is going to revert back to the dour old English-Italian one-goal-in-it affair?
I wouldn't mind if it's 1-0 to us. We would take that. Who knows, what happened last time might happen again! No matter what the score is, it's all about winning and hopefully it will be us that wins.
On a personal level, you've been voted high up in the Opta Index for defenders this season. What do you put your good form down to?
Just playing with good players. The squad is improving all the time and you get confidence from playing in a lot of games. Things have gone well for me. I suppose there are a lot of players who could probably say the same but it's good when you are playing with quality players.
Liverpool have been linked with a number of players who play in your position. Does this rumoured interest in other players motivate you in any way?
Not really because we're linked with players a lot - not just in my position but all over the pitch. You've got to keep yourself on your toes obviously, especially with the takeover because the club has got money to buy players. I'm sure we will be linked with a lot of players again. You've just got to get on with your own job, do the best you can, play well and keep your place.
There has been talk that you will be offered a new contract?
I have got a year left but I want to stay here as long as I can. Hopefully I can finish my career at Liverpool, which would be nice. First thing is first though and let's get the final out of the way because that is all we are concentrating on.
One player who seems like a new signing just ahead of the European Cup final is Harry Kewell. Is his return a big boost for the club?
Very big. I think he has looked sharp in the two games he has played and did very well in the last game against Charlton. I know it's an old cliché but it is like signing a new player. Harry has been out for virtually the whole season and if you look at what he can add to the team then it's a really good that he's back. Hopefully he can do well and carry on where he left off against Charlton. He has had a nightmare time through injuries and it would be good if he could end the season winning a European Cup medal.
Have you come up against Harry much in training?
I've let him get away with a few things because I don't want to be kicking him about with all the injuries he's had. He is looking sharp so I might have to start kicking him now though! Hopefully he can play his part in the final and then come back next season with a good pre-season under his belt.
If anyone deserves a touch of good fortune in a final, it's Harry isn't it?
He hasn't had much luck in the finals with his injuries but it would be great if he could play a part in this final but there's a lot of players who want to play in the final so it all depends what the manager wants to do.
Without wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves, how big a boost for next season would actually winning the Champions League be?
After we won the last one we had a really good run and kept a lot of clean sheets. If we could win it again, there will be a lot of excitement around the club. I'm sure the manager will be adding more quality players to the club as players will want to join us. It would be a massive boost for everyone and confidence would be high but we need to win it first before we start thinking about next season.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...70519-0819.htm
Steve, here we go again - two year's on and we're in another European Cup Final…
"It's great, isn't it? It's comes around quickly and two in three years is a good achievement but it would be fantastic if we can win it again. The lads are looking forward to it, we're getting the preparation right and we're all buzzing for the game.
What did Istanbul in 2005 mean to you personally because there must have been an element of disappointment after having to come off at half-time?
It was disappointing to get injured and then I missed all of our three goals and because I was still in the changing rooms. I came back out for the remainder of the game but when you are involved in a game like that, it's just about winning. Fortunately we are back in the final again and it's all about the club not me.
Can you talk us through your emotions at half-time on that night?
Being 3-0 down, there wasn't much being said in the dressing room. It was just a case of we've just got to give it a go now and see what happens. As I say, I missed our three goals but then I came back out and I remember AC Milan putting us under a bit of pressure. Jerzy made a couple of saves and then obviously the penalties were dramatic and we won the game in the end.
You say you missed the goals but did you know they were being scored by Liverpool?
I could here them and I knew it was us that was scoring because of the amount of noise that was being made. It happened so quickly and I just didn't have time to get out there.
Having missed out on being part of that fantastic comeback, do you think this final actually means more to you than some of your team-mates?
No, not really because it's not just about the 11 players. It's all about the club winning and it's just nice to play your part.
Everybody thought it was going to be Liverpool and Manchester United in the final but AC Milan obviously hadn't read the script. What did you make of their performance against United?
They played really well and looked good. Hopefully we won't give them the sort of room and time that Manchester United did. To be honest, I think it was probably a combination of them playing very well and Manchester United not playing well. Hopefully we can keep things a little bit tighter than United did. Yes, we know they are a quality team and what they are capable of but, like I said before, if we prepare right and focus on what we have to do then hopefully we can win the game.
Normally when you talk about the opposition, you tend to think about the strikers - particularly from a defensive point of view - but everyone is talking about Kaka as the man who can really pull the strings for Milan…
Definitely and everyone knows a lot about him. He's a fantastic player and is certainly one that our defence has to look out for. They have other quality players besides Kaka though. He is their main threat going forward but they have other players who are capable of scoring and creating chances.
With no Andriy Shevchenko and no Hernan Crespo, is there a feeling that you are stronger in defence than you were two years ago and Milan are weaker in attack?
I feel we have improved as a squad and have done very well defensively over the last couple of years. Overall, as a squad, I think we are stronger. It would be wrong for me to say they are weaker because they have got quality players and they still have a few who played in 2005. They have got experience for these sorts of games but I just think we are stronger as a squad and hopefully that may give us a little bit of an advantage that we can build on.
Are you happy with the underdog status again?
I suppose with the way they beat Manchester United in the second leg, people will have them down as favourites. It's not such a bad thing for us being underdogs though. It's not too often we are but, in a game like this, it doesn't matter.
Istanbul was a bit of a freaky game. Do you think this one is going to revert back to the dour old English-Italian one-goal-in-it affair?
I wouldn't mind if it's 1-0 to us. We would take that. Who knows, what happened last time might happen again! No matter what the score is, it's all about winning and hopefully it will be us that wins.
On a personal level, you've been voted high up in the Opta Index for defenders this season. What do you put your good form down to?
Just playing with good players. The squad is improving all the time and you get confidence from playing in a lot of games. Things have gone well for me. I suppose there are a lot of players who could probably say the same but it's good when you are playing with quality players.
Liverpool have been linked with a number of players who play in your position. Does this rumoured interest in other players motivate you in any way?
Not really because we're linked with players a lot - not just in my position but all over the pitch. You've got to keep yourself on your toes obviously, especially with the takeover because the club has got money to buy players. I'm sure we will be linked with a lot of players again. You've just got to get on with your own job, do the best you can, play well and keep your place.
There has been talk that you will be offered a new contract?
I have got a year left but I want to stay here as long as I can. Hopefully I can finish my career at Liverpool, which would be nice. First thing is first though and let's get the final out of the way because that is all we are concentrating on.
One player who seems like a new signing just ahead of the European Cup final is Harry Kewell. Is his return a big boost for the club?
Very big. I think he has looked sharp in the two games he has played and did very well in the last game against Charlton. I know it's an old cliché but it is like signing a new player. Harry has been out for virtually the whole season and if you look at what he can add to the team then it's a really good that he's back. Hopefully he can do well and carry on where he left off against Charlton. He has had a nightmare time through injuries and it would be good if he could end the season winning a European Cup medal.
Have you come up against Harry much in training?
I've let him get away with a few things because I don't want to be kicking him about with all the injuries he's had. He is looking sharp so I might have to start kicking him now though! Hopefully he can play his part in the final and then come back next season with a good pre-season under his belt.
If anyone deserves a touch of good fortune in a final, it's Harry isn't it?
He hasn't had much luck in the finals with his injuries but it would be great if he could play a part in this final but there's a lot of players who want to play in the final so it all depends what the manager wants to do.
Without wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves, how big a boost for next season would actually winning the Champions League be?
After we won the last one we had a really good run and kept a lot of clean sheets. If we could win it again, there will be a lot of excitement around the club. I'm sure the manager will be adding more quality players to the club as players will want to join us. It would be a massive boost for everyone and confidence would be high but we need to win it first before we start thinking about next season.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...70519-0819.htm
Marky for LFC chief scout!!
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