Ambrosini sheds light on Milan’s dressing room at half-time in Istanbul collapse vs. Liverpool

Massimo Ambrosini has lifted the lid on what happened during half-time in AC Milan’s Champions League final against Liverpool in 2005.

The Champions League final in Istanbul 21 years ago is etched in everyone’s memories, but for the wrong reasons if you are a Milan fan. Carlo Ancelotti’s side had the game put to bed at 3-0, thanks to an early goal from Paolo Maldini and a brace from Hernan Crespo.

Then, the unthinkable happened as the Rossoneri completely collapsed in the Turkish night. In the second half, Liverpool came back and equalised with three goals inside six minutes, before going on to win the trophy on penalties.

‘I know what happened’

For years, there has been talk of what happened in the Milan dressing room during the interval. To dispel any doubts, the former captain Massimo Ambrosini gave his version of events to Cronache di Spogliatoio (via Calciomercato.com).

“I’ll tell you what happened in the dressing room in Istanbul at half-time . Inzaghi, Brocchi, and I were in the stands in our uniforms. At 3-0, I, who had scored the winning goal in the semi-final against PSV, can you imagine how I felt,” he said.

“My mind processes this: if we win the match and go out on the pitch to celebrate with my team-mates, in 30 years whoever looks at the photos will see me on the pitch wearing a tie, and then people will know that I hadn’t played in that final.

“I know what happened in the dressing room at halftime because I tell the others to go to the dressing room and as soon as they come out we change and put on our shirts and everything else, including our socks. And then we put on our tracksuits over them, in fact I watch the second half in my tracksuit.

“I’m in the bathroom and I hear what’s happening. We hear Gattuso yelling at Pirlo, Sandro Nesta telling them to calm down, and then the coach comes in and says ‘enough! Sit down, there are two or three things we can do.’

“In the first minutes of the second half we have a chance to make it 4-0. So I leave the dressing room with my shirt and let’s just say that this didn’t bring much luck.”