Kaka: I never feared Istanbul repeat

Brazilian playmaker Kaka believes AC Milan were destined to make amends for their Istanbul nightmare after claiming the Champions League crown on Wednesday night.

Milan beat Liverpool 2-1 in Athens to clinch their seventh European title, with Kaka setting up Filippo Inzaghi for his second goal of the night as the Italians avenged their painful defeat at the hands of the Premiership club two years ago.

“We knew that had we played the final in Istanbul one thousand times, we would not have suffered the same result,” Kaka said.

The 2005 final turned into a horror show for Milan after the Reds came back from a 3-0 half-time deficit to win on penalties in Kaka’s first European final.

The Rossoneri were made to sweat again on Wednesday after Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt reduced the 2-0 deficit a minute from time, but this time the Rossoneri never doubted their ability to come out on top.

“We knew that fortune was on our side and even after they scored, we would still make it,” Kaka said. “It is a unique feeling to win this competition.”

The inspirational Kaka, who has been Milan’s undisputed star this season, is now favourite to win the Ballon D’Or after topping the Champions League scoring charts with 10 goals.

“I have always maintained that individual awards would only come as a consequence of what I did with my team,” he said. “I am privileged to be the star of this team, I can only say that we are a great team.”