AC Milan legend Cafu has confirmed what Liverpool fans have always thought about Istanbul.
The iconic full-back has opened up on his side's premature celebrations during the 2005 Champions League final.
Rafa Benitez's side produced one of the unlikeliest of comebacks in football in Istanbul. After trailing 3-0 at half-time, the Reds stormed to back to claim their fifth European Cup with a dramatic penalty shootout win over the Italian giants.
And Cafu, speaking ahead of the Reds' showdown with Spurs on Saturday night, has now revealed that his side were in fact - as many Liverpool fans have long suspected - celebrating during the interval.
"It's true, yes," the Brazilian told FourFourTwo when asked to confirm whether the Milan players were celebrating victory at half-time.
"We scored three great goals against a Liverpool team that was one of the most tactically aware sides I have ever faced – we thought it was our day, and we relaxed.
"When they scored the first two, we felt the impact. When they netted the third we just couldn't believe it.
"It wasn’t Milan’s fault; Liverpool deserved that comeback.
"I have big admiration for Liverpool: maybe another team wouldn’t show so much character to get level after trailing 3-0 at half-time.
"Actually I realised it was all lost even before the penalty shootout started, when [Andriy] Shevchenko missed that clear opportunity right in front of [Jerzy] Dudek during extra time."
