Former Argentina striker, Herman Crespo has recalled how the Champions League final match against eventual winner Liverpool went down with the club, himself and other players.
It will be recalled that AC Milan were leading Liverpool by 3 goals by half time only for Steven Gerrard to begin a comeback and Liverpool eventually won the game in Instabul on penalties.
Speaking exclusively in the January 2016 issue of FourFourTwo, the 40-year-old, now in charge of Serie B side Modena, says: “I had some very difficult personal problems during my time at Chelsea. My family lost two children. Emotionally, it was very, very hard to go through all of that on a personal level.
He also revealed he enjoyed his time in England while playing for Chelsea, despite failing to recapture his form from Italy, where he had plundered 144 goals in seven seasons with Parma, Lazio and Inter.
Crespo who scored 35 goals in 64 international appearances – a record bettered only by Lionel Messi and Gabriel Batistuta – spent two full seasons with the Blues either side of a season-long loan with Milan.
Crespo netted a total of 20 league goals in 49 appearances across his two stints with the West Londoners, picking up a Premier League winners’ medal 12 months after scoring in the Champions League final in Istanbul.
“Professionally, it was great. The fans were unbelievable. They sang [breaks into song] ‘Hello, hello! Hernan Crespo, Hernan Crespo!’ I wanted to give something back as I felt I had their respect. I had fun with Chelsea. The English have great respect for footballers. I loved London. I would run all the way there.”
And on the subject of Istanbul, Crespo is quick to play down reports that the Rossoneri were celebrating Champions League final success at half-time of their famous defeat to Liverpool.
“[In English] Can I say bulls**t? Yes? Bulls**t! When you’re young, you’re taught that the game lasts 90 minutes. We were all experienced players, including Clarence Seedorf, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Andriy Shevchenko – do you think these guys would celebrate?
“Sadly, there were journalists who made up this story to justify what happened to us. They said that we celebrated, when actually, despite leading 3-0, we had sat and discussed what we could better. What happened in Istanbul was destiny. It’s football. And that’s the sadness and beauty of our game.”
“Even today I can’t believe it. After the game it was like a funeral. Nobody spoke – not in the dressing room, not on the team bus, not even in the hotel. It was very difficult. Some players were crying. Others embraced their wives and children.”