Team talk insight shows Carlo Ancelotti 'always believed' Liverpool could come back in Istanbul

Remarkably, it's now 19 years to the day since Liverpool completed the comeback of all comebacks in the Champions League final. AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko has previously revealed what Carlo Ancelotti said to his players at half-time of the famous 2005 victory in Istanbul.

That night in Turkey has of course gone down in Liverpool history. The Reds completed the most remarkable of turnarounds in the final after going 3-0 down during the first half, with May 25 forever etched in club folklore.

Goals from Steven Gerrard and Vladimír Šmicer brought Liverpool back into the game shortly after the break, before Xabi Alonso turned in on the rebound after seeing his penalty saved to complete the incredible turnaround.

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And despite Milan knocking on the door to win the game thereafter, Liverpool held on before claiming its fifth European triumph in a penalty shootout. It has since made it six under Jürgen Klopp, but Istanbul will always hold a special place in hearts and minds.

Not for Shevchenko, though. It was of course he who saw his decisive spot-kick saved by Jerzy Dudek, and the former Ukraine international was reunited with Jamie Carragher on CBS Sports last year. He lifted the lid on what Ancelotti had said to his players at half-time, who at that point would have likely been expecting a comfortable victory.

"His instruction was that we carry on playing the same way, basically," Shevchenko said to Carragher.

"There was a good atmosphere outside, nobody gets excited, we know we're facing a very good team, the quality and an England team, he always believed [something could change].

"Every time you play against a team from England, especially Liverpool, any moment if you lose attention the team can come back."

The defeat was no doubt a bitter pill for the Milan players to swallow, but Shevchenko admitted Liverpool deserved its victory.

"It was disappointing but after that, we conceded three goals in six minutes. We actually continued to play a great game, we created so many chances and we believed we could turn it around and win.

"In extra time, I had a great chance and it was a great save from Dudek and it's hard to believe the ball didn't go in but it's the beauty of football, anything can happen, I respect that. You deserved it because you believed more than us."

Liverpool.com says: Magnanimous words from Shevchenko, who must have had sleepless nights thinking about that final. So much needed to go right for Liverpool, with Dudek in truly inspired form, not only in the shootout but with that extra time chance.

But Liverpool is one of those rare clubs where something like this is possible. The rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone at half-time never fails to raise goosebumps, and the whole evening sums up what is so special about the team and its supporters. The anniversary is as good a time as any to reflect on it again — go on, pull up the highlights, you know you want to.

A version of this story was first published on April 19, 2023. It has been updated and republished to mark the anniversary of the 2005 Champions League final.