Baros: It was destiny

Milan Baros believes that Liverpool's fifth European Cup win was set in fate.

The Reds' campaign had heralded great things as Rafa Benitez's side overcame the odds to see off prestigious opposition in the form of Juventus and Chelsea - before they topped all these achievements in Istanbul.

After going 3-0 down to Milan before half time Baros admitted that the outlook was bleak, although insisted that the Anfield outfit were destined for glory as they turned the face of the game in six sensational second half minutes.

The Czech striker also reserved praise for Jerzy Dudek after Liverpool's keeper pulled off a tremendous double save from Andrei Shevchenko before turning away two penalties in the shoot-out.

"Before the game it was destiny you know," Baros told Sky Sports News.

"We came down here to Istanbul to win the trophy, maybe after half time nobody believed it but we made the impossible possible, it's great.

"Jerzy has been fantastic, two minutes before the end of extra time he made a great save.

"He saved our team and caught maybe two or three penalties, so it was unbelievable."

Baros's Czech compatriot Vladimir Smicer played an integral part of the comeback as he struck the second goal in his last game for Liverpool, with the eventual win representing one of the best moments of his career.

The 32-year-old also converted a successful penalty, and revealed that he wanted to prove a point as he stepped onto the field as a substitute for Harry Kewell.

"I wanted to show everybody that I'm still a good footballer, that I still have something to say," Smicer told CTK.

"I think I have succeeded with that goal and that penalty.

"It wasn't a nice view [at half time], but we wanted to get a goal for our fans as we didn't want them to be sad.

"We didn't want to give it up so easily and at the end it came back to us.

"I'm spellbound by it all, this is maybe the greatest moment in my career."