A one-time Liverpool target, who ended the club's defence of the Champions League trophy by scoring at Anfield, says Benfica can repeat history, 16 years on.
Simao Sabrosa is now a director of the Lisbon club, but back in 2006 he would score a stunning goal at the Kop end in a 2-0 win for the Eagles, which dumped holders Liverpool out of Europe's premier competition at the last 16 stage.
As the two sides prepare to face each other again at the quarterfinal stage of the same competition in Lisbon on Tuesday evening, Simao, now 42, looks back on that night at Anfield with fond memories.
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Speaking to the Guardian, he said: “I remember everything. The atmosphere was brilliant thanks to the fans. Liverpool were the Champions League holders with the same team – they hadn’t changed too much – and when we saw the starting XI, I saw Steven Gerrard wasn’t playing, so we very happy because Gerrard was Liverpool’s best player, one of the best players in Europe. We started to play only thinking to win the game and we played for the win and Liverpool did not play for the win and did not play well.”
“It was the first time we got the ball but we knew what to do. I took out two players and I scored. After that goal, the team started to breathe as it is difficult to play at Anfield emotionally. There was silence from the Liverpool fans but I screamed a lot as I ran to the bench to celebrate with my mates.
"It was great to hear the 4,000 Benfica fans. We celebrated the first goal a lot and then when Miccoli scored the second goal, it was epic. I will never forget that moment and I will never forget Anfield because after the game we celebrated and after we went inside the dressing room we came back out to celebrate with our fans and also with the Liverpool fans that stayed behind.”
Simao's goal against Liverpool may never have happened had he signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2005, move that was very close to coming off. The deal even got as far as a plane being on stand-by for the forward's journey to England, but he never arrived.
He said: “Everything I was thinking was about moving to Liverpool. I remember I was with the national team and my manager called me to come into the office as Liverpool had made an offer. Luiz Felipe Scolari gave me permission to go for talks but when I arrived at Benfica’s office, they said it was impossible and they told me I didn’t have permission to take the plane to Liverpool, so I stayed with Benfica.”
Liverpool are big favourites to advance to the semi-finals this time around with Benfica currently in a transitional phase, but Simao hasn't give up hope of an upset by his team.
He added: “I know Liverpool have great players but we also have great players. Anything is possible, like happened against Barcelona or Ajax this season. I think 2006 can be repeated.”
