They are two of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Champions League but one Liverpool legend has said that one tops the other.
John Arne Riise, a part of Liverpool’s 2004/05 Champions League winning team, has rated that team’s famous 3-0 comeback against AC Milan ahead of the 2019 comeback against Barcelona.
Riise also reminisced over his Liverpool career, describing the 2005 semi-final win over Chelsea as the loudest atmosphere he’s ever experienced in football, and backed his former teammates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in what they’ve said about El Hadji Diouf.
Istanbul Comeback Tops Comeback Against Barcelona
If you look at the teams and who we were up against, Istanbul was bigger than Barcelona in 2019. AC Milan were probably the best team in the world defensively. To then go down 3-0 and then have to score three in one half against that defence was amazing.
If you look at Liverpool vs Barcelona in 2019, you always knew you could score against them but you knew they would score too. So to turn that around and keep a clean sheet was also amazing, so it's hard. But I would always say a final is worth more than any other game.
It's the biggest final in the history of the Champions League, for sure. But was it the greatest comeback? I'm not sure. But between Istanbul and Barcelona, I would say Istanbul for sure.
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The Best Atmosphere I’ve Ever Experienced
100% the semi-final against Chelsea in 2005 was the best atmosphere I have experienced in football. At one point the ball went out for a throw-in, and I looked and realised there were 6 minutes left, and I remember thinking f*** me, this is so loud. I was so dead, and so tired, then I remembered the fans at that point and I get goosebumps now.
I will never forget that atmosphere, and also at the final whistle, the celebrations were unbelievable.
How The Atmosphere In England Compares To Italy & France
Every stadium in England is more compact, in Italy you have the tracks around, so you don't get as close to the fans as you do in England. But the Italian fans are unbelievably passionate. It's their life, to them, who they support in Italy. I've been extremely lucky to play for Liverpool and Roma, because they are both known for their passion.
But Roma fans, against Lazio or in the Champions League, they do something special. Some sort of show, which was the biggest thing I ever saw. Roma fans were unreal.
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Gerrard & Carragher Are Right – El Hadji Diouf Had A Bad Attitude
I agree with Gerrard and Carragher about Diouf having a bad attitude. I support them both on that one. When you come to a club like Liverpool players must realise what it takes. Too many players thought they made it once they signed, but that's when the job starts.
Diouf didn't understand that. He thought he had done it once he signed. Gerrard and Carragher are two players who will forever be the boss of how it should be in training. So when it came to training, if you don't do what was demanded, they would tell you and show you what they mean.
That was a massive thing for Liverpool. That once you go there you have to really start proving yourself, not just once you have signed. Some players didn’t realise that, some people were surprised by that and changed, some didn't care. But I stand by Gerrard and Carragher.
Diouf was a good player but English football is different, the pace and aggression, the tackling, the fans, it's 90 minutes of full power. I don't think he was ready for that. He thought he could take the ball, stand on it, do some tricks, but then he would get smashed and it's a counter attack on your teammates.
I don't think he realised how hard it was to play in the Premier League, and I don't think he wanted to change to that style. That was a big part of it.
You looked at that and thought, he's not professional enough, he's not taking it seriously enough because he doesn't want to change. So I understood what Carragher and Gerrard were saying.
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