Steven Gerrard Reveals What Happened During The 2005 Champions League Final Half-Time 1

More than 11 years ago, Liverpool won the Champions League in one of the most dramatic finals the competition has ever seen.

Rafa Benitez’s side found themselves 3-0 down at half-time to an incredible AC Milan side and they looked down and out.

However, inspired by captain Steven Gerrard, Liverpool scored three times in six second-half minutes to draw level and somehow held out until extra-time and penalties.

And the comeback was complete after the shootout victory against Carlo Ancelotti’s men, with Andriy Shevchenko missing the crucial kick.

But what happened during that 15-minute break that changed the match?

It’s a question that has been asked – and answered – numerous times and now we’ve heard Steven Gerrard’s version of events.

Gerrard was appearing as a pundit on BT Sport for West Brom 2-0 defeat to Manchester United and explained exactly what happened in that Istanbul changing room.

“It has to be Istanbul,” when asked about the best team talk he’s ever received.

“3-0 down, Rafa Benitez obviously weaving his magic. We had a couple of injuries and a lot to talk about and a lot to sort out because it was very one-sided in the first half and we were worried it was going to become 4,5 and 6.

“Rafa got us together – Didi Hamann came on at half-time and really stiffened the team up and we managed to get back in the game.

“I just remember the noise from the Liverpool fans, they were still with us – it’s very rare that you go in at half-time 3-0 down and the fans are still with you, but the Liverpool fans are unique and they stayed with us. They were singing and we could hear it from the dressing room.

“Rafa sorted us out and we were a completely different team. He was very calm which was surprising because we were expecting him to lose it a little bit.

“Early on, everyone was talking, trying to help each other out and ask each other why we were so bad in the first-half and why Kaka was causing us so many problems. So there was a lot of noise early on but Rafa comes in, calms everyone down and gives us that inspirational team talk which helped us go on and get back into the game.”

Watch the full interview below:


While Gerrard never quite won the Premier League at Liverpool, he will never forget what happened on the 25th May 2005, in Istanbul.

It was simply incredible and Gerrard played a major role in the Reds getting their hands on their fifth European Cup. The skipper scored Liverpool’s first goal with a superb header, before winning the penalty for Xabi Alonso to equalise – albeit via the rebound.

And now we know exactly what happened in that changing room at half-time.