A former Liverpool striker, who played a crucial role in helping the club to clinch their fifth European Cup in 2005, has recalled the 'fun' he had taking a penalty kick.
Djibril Cisse scored the Reds' second spot-kick in an unbearable shoot-out triumph in Istanbul after Rafa Benitez' side famously cam back from 3-0 down against a star-studded AC Milan side, draw 3-3 before winning the Champions League from 12 yards.
But the French international, who had missed a huge chunk of the season after suffering a career-threatening leg break against Blackburn Rovers, has revealed that his happiness at just being back on the pitch easily out-weighed any nerves that he may have had.
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Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine about the Games That Changed His Life, Cisse said: “I took a penalty in the shootout in the final, but was absolutely fine. I didn’t feel any nerves at all. I actually found it a lot of fun, rather than feeling the pressure.
“Three months earlier I had been in pain with a broken leg, so it was just amazing to be there in Istanbul taking a penalty in front of all those fans. Everyone played a part in getting Liverpool the trophy – Stevie G (Gerrard), Vladi Smicer and Jerzy Dudek especially. What a special night.”
Cisse, a £14million signing from Auxerre, who arrived after the sacking of Gerard Houllier but still had his transfer sanctioned by then-Liverpool CEO Rick Parry, also scored in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham United in Cardiff - another 3-3 roller-coaster that was settled by a shoot-out.
After joining the Reds, Cisse bought a £2million manor house in the Cheshire Market Town of Frodsham that saw him become the 'Lord of the Manor of Frodsham' - a noble title that came with the deed.
The eccentric French forward, who became as known for his appetite for DJing as has performances on the pitch, also revealed how Liverpool's revered Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Anfield was the loudest atmosphere he had ever played in.
He said: “The Champions League semi-final was the only game I’ve ever played in where the noise was so loud that you could feel the pitch shake! I don’t think I’d ever played in an atmosphere like that before.
“I only remember brief moments from the match because it was that intense. We were still level at 0-0 from the first leg at Stamford Bridge so needed an early goal, and Luis Garcia got it. But I can’t recall much apart from the scenes at Anfield at the end, when people were just going absolutely crazy. The end of that match always sticks in my mind.”
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