Irureta witnesses miracle win

By Graham Hunter in La Coruna

RC Deportivo La Coruña's coach and players immediately tried to bring themselves back down to earth and shrug off the title of UEFA Champions League favourites after eliminating AC Milan 5-4 on aggregate with an incredible 4-0 second-leg victory at the Riazor.

Final target
The Spanish side have now eliminated both of last season's finalists, having dealt with Juventus FC in the last round, and face José Mourinho's FC Porto in the semi-finals - the first time Deportivo have reached the last four.

'Immense effort'
Right-back Manuel Pablo summed up the attitude, saying: "We united in an immense effort and we attacked them with passion from the first moments. But all we have done is get nearer to the final now - we are not in it. We need to move forward bit by bit from here, not start talking about winning."

'Best moment'
Alberto Luque spoke of the immense satisfaction and euphoria in the Deportivo camp, and admitted that this was the greatest night of his career. "The team and the fans merit a ten out of ten for the football and the noise which they used to support us," he said. "This, without doubt, is the best moment I've had in football, but that won't mean much if we don't now make it to the final."

'Babble of words'
Luque's contribution was a microcosm of the triumph. When he was substituted for the final goalscorer, Fran, he was clearly exhausted, having had a hand in two of the first three goals and scored the other. "At half-time there was just this babble of words in the dressing room with everyone wanting to share their thoughts," he said. "But some of us managed to establish calm. After that it was just a case of us dying to get out and start running and working again."

Key goal
Prior to Luque's brilliant goal, Walter Pandiani and Juan Carlos Valerón had given Deportivo their early 2-0 lead as the home side moved ahead on the away goals rule before half-time. "The first goal was important and the start of a sensational first half," admitted coach Javier Irureta. "But the second goal was the key - that was when Milan started to realise they could lose and we could win."

Molina on form
Once their 4-0 advantage had been established, it still took two fine saves from José Molina to prevent Milan getting the away goal which would have taken the match into extra-time. Milan were gracious in defeat, handing over the title with a tame performance but accepting the loss with elegance, with Cafu saying: "It's hard to believe and hard to explain but the result tells you about the quality of our opponents."

Gracious Milan
"We thought that the 4-1 advantage was huge but it turned out it was not enough," said Andriy Shevchenko. "You have to give credit to Deportivo for what they have done."

'Everything wrong'
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti summed up a miserable night for the champions. "Deportivo did everything right and we did everything wrong," he said. "Now we have to concentrate on winning our league and analyse, in private, what has happened here tonight."

'Historic and spectacular'
Irureta allowed his players back out after the final whistle for a rare lap of honour, and Deportivo president Augusto Lendoiro grinned: "I believe that not only La Coruna but Galicia and Spain now have a reason to have a huge fiesta. We have done something historic and spectacular and given joy to thousands of young football fans all over Spain."