Andriy Shevchenko was one of the best players in the world when The "Miracle of Istanbul" between Liverpool and AC Milan took place. However, this status didn't help him fight the memories that ate him alive. He was the last to take the penalty that was saved by Dudek.
In his autobiography, Shevchenko recalls: "The more I tried to explain, the more what had happened ate me up inside. An acid that was in danger of corroding me. I would wake up in the middle of the night, soaked in sweat. I would scream in my sleep… for three long months, I was a hostage of Istanbul."
"Of that open prison, with its guards walking around in red shirts with the trophy in their hands. My mind was becoming a madhouse. Either I stopped tormenting myself or I was going to need some kind of specialist attention. I resolved not to think about it anymore."
On that painful game, Andriy said: "We were a great Milan team, ready to face Liverpool at the Ataturk Stadium. We approached the game in an extremely calm frame of mind, well aware of our ability… For everyone connected with Milan, May 25 would go down as the day the world went mad. And yet, it started out as intended."
After the first half, Milan had a 3-0 lead but the players of the team were not relaxed.
"It was a happy break, but there was no party, unlike what some have insinuated since. Poisonous lies. We kept telling each other we couldn’t let up - we were a group of model professionals."
"In the second half, Liverpool set fire to our souls… In the space of six minutes, the moon was turned off. A dark, dark night. Without any lights to guide us, we ran aground."
"With 53 minutes and 24 seconds on the clock, Gerrard scored with a header. 3-1. After 55 minutes and 23 seconds, Smicer scored from outside the box."
"Fear started to knock on the door. Incredulity too. After 60 minutes and 11 seconds, Xabi Alonso made it 3-3. The Spaniard’s penalty was saved by Dida, but he knocked in the rebound. We pushed and pushed, trying everything we could. But there was nothing for it…"
