Adriano Galliani insists Milan were not victims of overconfidence during the infamous Champions League final loss to Liverpool.
The Rossoneri were 3-0 up at half-time in Istanbul in the 2005 final, but lost on penalties after the Reds drew level at 3-3.
In an interview for Milan Channel to celebrate the club’s 115th birthday, joint-CEO Galliani gave his thoughts on the final.
“I feel very sorry for Hernan Crespo,” Galliani reflected.
Adriano Galliani insists Milan were not victims of overconfidence during the infamous Champions League final loss to Liverpool.
The Rossoneri were 3-0 up at half-time in Istanbul in the 2005 final, but lost on penalties after the Reds drew level at 3-3.
In an interview for Milan Channel to celebrate the club’s 115th birthday, joint-CEO Galliani gave his thoughts on the final.
“I feel very sorry for Hernan Crespo,” Galliani reflected.
“He did extraordinary things in that season’s Champions League. Not just the two goals in the final, but also the goals against Manchester United in the second round.
“It’s not true that we were celebrating in the dressing room at half time that night.
“After those six minutes [where Liverpool drew level] we started to play well again, we were within touching distance of winning with Sheva [Andrei Shevchenko], but Dudek saved it with his wrist in an incredible way.
“I think we played better in 2005 than [in victory] in 2007.
“The only time [Gennaro] Gattuso really wanted to leave was after Istanbul. I think he was the player who suffered the most after that defeat.”
Galliani is inextricably linked with Milan President Silvio Berlusconi, having arrived at the club when the former Prime Minister acquired the Rossoneri in 1986, and the 70-year-old discussed Berlusconi’s tenure.
“He [Berlusconi] is really one of the greats,” Galliani raved.
“He’s great in everything he does.
“I think there are three great periods for Berlusconi’s Milan – Sacchi’s two successive European Cups, which no other club has done since, then Capello’s great period with three Champions League finals and then the seasons with Ancelotti on the bench, when we won the Champions League in 2003 and 2007.
“It’s incredible, these three Coaches have all taken us to the top of the world.
“The history of Milan is just fantastic.
“Today we celebrate the 115th anniversary of the club, and also the 15th birthday of Milan Channel which started in 1999.
“Tomorrow there’s another anniversary – the victory in the 1989 Intercontinental Cup with [Alberigo] Evani’s goal.”