Rafa describes how he inspired Istanbul miracle

Rafa has revealed what happened in Istanbul at half time to galvanise the team's remarkable comeback:

"I walked into the dressing room rehearsing what I was going to say to them but also how I was going to say it," he said.
"It's really difficult to come up with all the things you want to say in a foreign language. I was trying to find the right English words.
"We talked about what we were going to change. It's tough enough motivating a team which is losing 3-0 in Spanish. In English, it is much, much tougher.
"But the words came more easily than I could ever have hoped. The important aspect was to lift their spirits.
"I started with a motivational speech to get them fired up. I demanded they start working again and emphasised there were 45 minutes left and we had to come off the pitch proud of ourselves because we'd done everything in our power.
"So I reminded them it had been a hard battle to reach such a massive game and that we owed something important to all the Liverpool people. I said if we scored we would totally change the course of the game. I emphasised it was the most important challenge.
"I said: 'Don't let your heads drop. We're Liverpool. You're playing for Liverpool. Don't forget that. You have to hold your heads high for the supporters. You have to do it for them.
'You can't call yourselves Liverpool players if you have your heads down. If we create a few chances we have the possibility of getting back into this. Believe you can do it and you will. Give yourself the chance to be heroes'."

Rafa's team talk in Istanbul was, of course, a major factor. I believe the fans emotional singing of You'll Never Walk Alone at half time also had a huge effect in instilling the belief back into the team.