GENNARO GATTUSO is still haunted by Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League winning comeback.
The Reds’ dramatic revival is considered by many to have been one of the most thrilling European finals of all-time.
Gattuso and his AC Milan team-mates had cruised to a 3-0 lead at half-time before a once-in-a-lifetime fightback.
And the former midfielder – now boss at Valencia – claims he saw the mother of Jesus during the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’.
He said: “I’ve lost a Champions League final that I was winning 3-0 against Liverpool and I saw the Virgin Mary in person.
“I think that in football you have to respect it and always be at your best.”
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Liverpool went on to score three times in a six-minute blitz shortly after the break to leave the Italians shell-shocked.
Jerzy Dudek then pulled off an heroic double-save in extra-time and pulled-off the famous “wobbly legs” in the penalty shootout to see Liverpool famously win their fifth Champions League title.
And Gattuso has used it to shape his philosophy as a manger.
As did his gaffer on the day, Carlo Ancelotti, who revealed he cited the iconic final to help Real Madrid win the La Liga title last season.
Most read in Champions League
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING OFFER – GET £50 BACK AS CASH
The 44-year-old Gattuso is currently in charge at Valencia after joining them in June on a two-year deal.
He recently denied claims he rejected taking the Fiorentina job last summer because he had an agreement with Prem side Tottenham.
Instead, the Italian blames Spurs organisation on his lack of a move to London.
He claimed: “Tottenham came later, then I didn’t go there to work for things that were not true. The Tottenham managers fell for it and I paid.
“When these things happen, it becomes difficult to defend yourself, luckily at Valencia the management supported me.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
