Cisse explains why Benitez left dressing room at half-time during the 2005 Champions League final

Liverpool players celebrate after an incredible win at Istanbul

Former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse has said that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard asked the then manager of the club Rafa Benitez to leave the room at half-time during the Reds’ iconic Champions League final win against AC Milan at Istanbul in 2005.

After being 3-0 down in the first half, Liverpool made a dramatic comeback in the second 45 minutes to score 3 goals and eventually took the game to penalties, where an inspired performance from Jerzy Dudek helped them win a fifth European Cup title.

Calling Gerard a Super captain, the 32-year-old said that he never had any issues with him and found him to be a very straight-forward man.

Djibril Cissé on Steven Gerrard: "He was the captain. If he liked you he'd tell you, if he didn't like you, he'd also tell you."

— GFFNPressConferences (@GFFNPressConf) November 23, 2014

Djibril Cissé on Gerrard: "We have a lot of similarities and we got on from the first minute. A super captain."

— GFFNPressConferences (@GFFNPressConf) November 23, 2014

Djibril Cissé on Gerrard: "In Champions League at half-time he asked Benitez to leave the dressing room so he could talk to the players."

— GFFNPressConferences (@GFFNPressConf) November 23, 2014

Djibril Cissé on Gerrard: "He said "boss can you please leaving the dressing room so I can talk to my team" and he did it."

— GFFNPressConferences (@GFFNPressConf) November 23, 2014