It was probably against Lyon in 2016. The Lyon forward Nabil Fekir turned quickly and shot. I think it took a deflection off Leonardo Bonucci from four metres out, but I had the instinct to turn it over the bar.
The one against Inzaghi [in 2003] is one of the saves that should be put in an archive with a bright red circle, because it was special. And the one from Dani Alves in the final against Barcelona [in 2015] was not usual either. It was also important, at the time, because if Dani had scored it would’ve been 2-0, and I think the game would’ve been over already after a few minutes.
It was probably against Lyon in 2016. The Lyon forward Nabil Fekir turned quickly and shot. I think it took a deflection off Leonardo Bonucci from four metres out, but I had the instinct to turn it over the bar.
The one against Inzaghi [in 2003] is one of the saves that should be put in an archive with a bright red circle, because it was special. And the one from Dani Alves in the final against Barcelona [in 2015] was not usual either. It was also important, at the time, because if Dani had scored it would’ve been 2-0, and I think the game would’ve been over already after a few minutes.
Certainly the 2002/03 season. I think I had a sensational campaign, so much so that I was named as the best player in the competition, and I don’t think that’s happened often for a goalkeeper. That was an accolade which made me really proud. There was also the quarter-final against Barcelona in 2017, when we managed to avoid conceding in either leg. At that time, to not concede against Barcelona, especially over two games, was remarkable.
Anfield is definitely the one that shocked me the most. For the first 15 minutes, I felt disorientated. I’m a goalkeeper who talks a lot with my defenders, but there it was impossible to speak with anyone because the noise was so deafening that no one could hear you, even if they were a metre away. The only other stadium in which I experienced the same atmosphere was Ibrox, the home of Glasgow Rangers. It’s really exhilarating because it’s like you’re walking out as gladiators with the entire crowd spurring you on. It’s fantastic.
When you’re lucky enough to play for 25 years… I’ve honestly gone through three generations of great football players. I remember I started out by saving two penalties against Dortmund, from Andreas Möller and Stéphane Chapuisat. Then I went through Ronaldo – Il Fenomeno. Then there was Zidane, then Henry. There was Alan Shearer, who perhaps some young people struggle to remember, but he was a really strong player. There was Ronaldinho, Figo, there was Raúl; that was also a crazily good era. Roberto Carlos. Milan with Shevchenko, Rui Costa, Pirlo. I would honestly be committing a disrespectful sin against the history of this great competition to single out one player.
It was probably against Lyon in 2016. The Lyon forward Nabil Fekir turned quickly and shot. I think it took a deflection off Leonardo Bonucci from four metres out, but I had the instinct to turn it over the bar.
The one against Inzaghi [in 2003] is one of the saves that should be put in an archive with a bright red circle, because it was special. And the one from Dani Alves in the final against Barcelona [in 2015] was not usual either. It was also important, at the time, because if Dani had scored it would’ve been 2-0, and I think the game would’ve been over already after a few minutes.
It was probably against Lyon in 2016. The Lyon forward Nabil Fekir turned quickly and shot. I think it took a deflection off Leonardo Bonucci from four metres out, but I had the instinct to turn it over the bar.
The one against Inzaghi [in 2003] is one of the saves that should be put in an archive with a bright red circle, because it was special. And the one from Dani Alves in the final against Barcelona [in 2015] was not usual either. It was also important, at the time, because if Dani had scored it would’ve been 2-0, and I think the game would’ve been over already after a few minutes.
It was probably against Lyon in 2016. The Lyon forward Nabil Fekir turned quickly and shot. I think it took a deflection off Leonardo Bonucci from four metres out, but I had the instinct to turn it over the bar.
The one against Inzaghi [in 2003] is one of the saves that should be put in an archive with a bright red circle, because it was special. And the one from Dani Alves in the final against Barcelona [in 2015] was not usual either. It was also important, at the time, because if Dani had scored it would’ve been 2-0, and I think the game would’ve been over already after a few minutes.
Certainly the 2002/03 season. I think I had a sensational campaign, so much so that I was named as the best player in the competition, and I don’t think that’s happened often for a goalkeeper. That was an accolade which made me really proud. There was also the quarter-final against Barcelona in 2017, when we managed to avoid conceding in either leg. At that time, to not concede against Barcelona, especially over two games, was remarkable.
Anfield is definitely the one that shocked me the most. For the first 15 minutes, I felt disorientated. I’m a goalkeeper who talks a lot with my defenders, but there it was impossible to speak with anyone because the noise was so deafening that no one could hear you, even if they were a metre away. The only other stadium in which I experienced the same atmosphere was Ibrox, the home of Glasgow Rangers. It’s really exhilarating because it’s like you’re walking out as gladiators with the entire crowd spurring you on. It’s fantastic.
When you’re lucky enough to play for 25 years… I’ve honestly gone through three generations of great football players. I remember I started out by saving two penalties against Dortmund, from Andreas Möller and Stéphane Chapuisat. Then I went through Ronaldo – Il Fenomeno. Then there was Zidane, then Henry. There was Alan Shearer, who perhaps some young people struggle to remember, but he was a really strong player. There was Ronaldinho, Figo, there was Raúl; that was also a crazily good era. Roberto Carlos. Milan with Shevchenko, Rui Costa, Pirlo. I would honestly be committing a disrespectful sin against the history of this great competition to single out one player.
It was probably against Lyon in 2016. The Lyon forward Nabil Fekir turned quickly and shot. I think it took a deflection off Leonardo Bonucci from four metres out, but I had the instinct to turn it over the bar.
The one against Inzaghi [in 2003] is one of the saves that should be put in an archive with a bright red circle, because it was special. And the one from Dani Alves in the final against Barcelona [in 2015] was not usual either. It was also important, at the time, because if Dani had scored it would’ve been 2-0, and I think the game would’ve been over already after a few minutes.
