Milan celebrations ignited Liverpool

It is only normal that our players were happy at half time, but I simply do not trust Traore's comments that some of the players were celebrating... Players who has played in hundred of finals before. No way!!

Don't believe everything you read in media.

from channel4
Milan complacency inspired Traore
Friday 27 May, 2005
Djimi Traore says the Milan players’ complacency provided the inspiration behind Wednesday’s Champions’ League heroics.

Traore admits he had given up hope of winning the Final after the Rossoneri roared into a 3-0 lead by half-time in Istanbul. "I didn’t believe we could do it anymore," the defender said.

"But the fans pushed us back into the game. When we went into the dressing room, our heads had dropped.

"But we saw the way the Italians were behaving. They were congratulating themselves as though they had already won. That also boosted us," Traore revealed.

"Once we equalised we looked at each other and decided we should play for penalties."

That's exactly what happened as Liverpool went on to lift their fifth European crown, winning the shootout 3-2.

I think kris and Hitman are right. I doubt very much that Traore's supposed words are quite correct. Being satisfied and happy at that time would be ok, celebrating is not.

IF these statements are true and everyone was celebrating as though we'd won, I'm truly disgusted by the attitudes of our players, but I will only believe it when proven to be true.

That's ridicolous. Why where they thinking it was all over it wasn't. That's dreadful no team should think like that. We know better then that.

MALDINI: 'We were not celebrating at half time'
5/27/2005
MILANELLO - Paolo Maldini has commented on a report in the Gazzetto dello Sport newspaper that according to Liverpool defender Traore, Milan were already celebrating victory in the Champions League final during the half-time interval: 'We are a side that accepts the result on the pitch and although it was a painful defeat it was a game we deserved to win. That does not mean we have to voluntarily accept what Traore was reported to have said which was given a lot of prominence while in the same article his coach Benitez said the opposite to his player. We are not a superficial side as the Gazzetto dello Sport made out, we are experienced players and there were no celebrations in the dressing room during the interval.' The captain added: 'Indeed, there was certain nervousness and Carl Ancelotti, our coach, advised us just in the interval to get the maximum level of concentration.'

I know who I believe.

Originally Posted by Nadir

"But we saw the way the Italians were behaving. They were congratulating themselves as though they had already won. That also boosted us," Traore revealed.

Can't they congratulate themselves for a great first half?
They were happy, probably singing(it's good that they are positive), but really celebrating a win before the game ended? I doubt about it. Most of them have played really important games before + must of them probably have already seen and know that the game isn't over till the reff blows the final whistle.
Another thing: this kinds of gossip always happen when a team loses a final in a terrible way.

AH! And Benitez already denied that...so I believe the latter.

yah. i believe Paolo on this one. I guess i would be happier of Traore's story was true so we have a reason to explain the collapse :P

maldini would NEVER lie so i believe his story...
however i think both are true... they were probably congratulating themselves and showed happiness and think that they will win, but i dont think there were big celebrations but just some cheering and probably a little pat on the back but i dont think it went further than that.

It's a shame that Traore has to rub in salt after they won. If there is anything worse than a sore loser it is a sore winner. Djimi Traore needs to grow up and not make these kinds of accusations. The win was enough to compliment Liverpool, this disgusting allegation to rationalize this miracle comeback is beyond my comprehension. Well that's what you get when a habitual sore loser like Traore finally wins something in his life. He doesnt know how to be a gracious winner or plainly this is a first for him.
What do you guys think??? Which is worse a Sore Loser??? or A sore winner???

Gattuso and Stam have also denied this story, as has Benitez.

To answer Kui's question, a sore loser is worse, because there are so many more of them.

Bah, Traore probably just wanted personal attention.

Carlo did tell the players to get "maximum concentration" on the game...

if benitez refuted the story, it makes traore look kinda stupid

Originally Posted by Nadir

if benitez refuted the story, it makes traore look kinda stupid

Yeah what a clown. Why does he feel the need to tarnish such an epic triumph?

A complex that's why.