Rafael Benitez believes his Champions League comeback against AC Milan was better than Liverpool's fightback against Barcelona on Tuesday night.
The Spaniard marvelled when Jurgen Klopp's team produced an incredible 4-0 semi-final second-leg display to claim victory over the Catalan giants at Anfield before Tottenham conjured up a remarkable fightback against Ajax 24 hours later to set up an all-English showdown in Madrid next month.
However, after seeing a television poll rating the Reds' remarkable fightback in the 2005 final in Istanbul to beat AC Milan on penalties as the more amazing comeback, Benitez, who was in charge of the Mersyeside club at the time, could not argue with the verdict.
Asked which was better, the 59-year-old replied with a smile: “My comeback was better, it is very clear.
“There has been a poll [on Sky Sports]. Come on, no chance the Barcelona one was better.
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“You have 45 minutes, 3-0 against AC Milan, the best team, miles away from anyone, the fans singing at half-time, the Milan fans so happy.
"Then you go and you score three goals in six minutes and Dudek's save, and then you go to extra time, you go to the penalties.
“Better than that? Come on. I am telling you, a Turkish friend of mine that was here said, 'Listen, for one year, we were analysing this game'.
“Now, [Liverpool] you play a very good game. One thing is the comeback and the atmosphere, the emotions: no chance, that is Istanbul.
“If you win the trophy it would be a fantastic achievement after all these things, but I really don't want to talk too much about that. They've done really well in midweek with a great performance, but Istanbul is another thing.”
