One of the biggest regrets of Jamie Carragher's career involves missing out on the photos from that famous Champions League trophy lift in Istanbul – and he still hasn't got over it.
Back in 2005, many thought it was game, set and match when a brace from Hernan Crespo and a rare Paolo Maldini goal handed AC Milan a three-goal advantage at half-time.
But as we all know, Steven Gerrard's bullet header clawed the scoreline to 3-1 and six minutes later, the game was tied thanks to Vladimír Smicer and Xabi Alonso.
Advert
Rafael Benitez's side went on to win the game on penalties and, while the result will go down in the record books, it was a moment after the game that still grates on Carragher.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, the former Liverpool captain opened up about that moment and the regret that followed.
He began: "One of my regrets about when Stevie [Steven Gerrard] lifted the trophy [Champions League 2005] is that I’m not in any picture. I’m at the back stretching my calf, I’m getting cramp at the end of the game.
Advert
"There is a shot from up above and you see players who have only played two games, the right back, Josemi is in every picture, and I’m stretching my calf at the back and I’m thinking, 'Oh my God.'
"Whenever I sign a picture, I’m signing over Josemi’s head."
Josemi was Rafael Benitez's first signing as Liverpool manager in the summer of 2004, arriving from La Liga side Malaga in a £2 million deal.
The defender made just 28 starts in all competitions for the Reds and started in four of Liverpool's six Champions League group games in 2004/05
Advert
He was also an unused substitute in the final but that didn't stop him from being front and centre in the trophy celebrations.
After going three goals down, Carragher's teammate Steven Gerrard gave a half-time team talk that galvanised his teammates into producing one of the all-time great comebacks.
He asked all the coaching staff to leave the dressing room and produced a speech from the heart, according to former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse.
Advert
"I will never forget Steven Gerrard's team-talk at half-time during the 2005 Champions' League final," he told RMC Sport.
"Benitez comes into the dressing room, he does his coach speech, that we must not give up and that we need to score quickly.
"Steven gets up and asks all the coaching staff to leave the dressing room, because he wanted to be alone with just the players. All the staff left, even the physios who were giving treatment to the players."
"Stevie gets up and says that Liverpool is all he has, it is his club, all he has ever known and he does not want to be the laughing stock of the history of the Champions League.
Advert
"He says that if we respect him and love him as a captain, then we need to dust ourselves off and get back in the match.
"He scores the first goal, he gets the penalty. He has an extraordinary second half, finishing the game as a right-back. He has a crazy match - but that half-time speech will remain imprinted in my mind forever."
Featured Image Credit: Stick To Football Podcast/YouTubeTopics: Jamie Carragher, Liverpool, Premier League, AC Milan, Champions League
Jack Kenmare