Cup coup for Cafu

By Paolo Menicucci

The only player on the planet to have appeared in three FIFA World Cup finals, Brazilian right-back Cafu is ready to play his first UEFA Champions League final at the age of 34 when AC Milan face Liverpool FC in Istanbul tonight.

'Calm and serene'
"We know it will be a very difficult game but we are going to Istanbul to win the Champions League, no doubts about that," Cafu told uefa.com. "We have positive feelings, we know we can do it. We just need be calm and serene and play as we know we can."

'Different side'
Cafu has watched Liverpool's wins against Juventus FC and Chelsea FC in the previous rounds and has plenty of respect for the Premiership side. "They were the better side over those four matches and deservedly reached the final," he said. "But we are a totally different side from Juventus and Chelsea.

Tactical analysis
"We don't have to think about the mistakes made by Juventus and Chelsea in those games, we have only to analyse what Liverpool did particularly well against them," he added. "We have to try and cancel out all their best weapons. We know we have to do everything well if we want to win."

No certainties
An attack-minded right-back, Cafu was unconvinced by the widespread belief that Liverpool would go all out to defend in Istanbul. "In a Champions League final anything can happen," he said. "Let's see how Liverpool play against us. I don't know if they will only defend. We will see that on the pitch and then we will try to find the best way to beat them."

Competing defences
An extremely organised rearguard may be the calling card of Rafael Benítez's Liverpool, but having kept seven consecutive clean sheets before the return leg of the semi-final against PSV Eindhoven, the Rossoneri's 'Jurassic defence' has played a mighty role in this season's competition.

Wise heads
"Hard work and professionalism are the key to these great performances," said Cafu, who along with Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini forms a back four with a combined age of 131. "We are very experienced and talk a lot to each other on the pitch to keep things tight."

Manchester test
The Brazilian international has fond memories of Milan's 1-0 win against Liverpool's English rivals Manchester United FC this season. "That match occupies a special place in my heart," he said. "It was a hell of a match, played at Old Trafford with 60,000 people screaming against us, and featuring a very strong opposition. Milan had to fight hard to go home with a positive result."

Extra motivation
And 'Il Pendolino' - 'the Express Train' - believes the prospect of a similarly thrilling night at the Atatürk Olympic stadium will tiredness will not be a problem for Milan in Istanbul. "The fact we've made it so far proves we are fit enough and a final is always a final," he said. "This is the kind of game that makes you put even more effort towards a victory. No Milan supporter should doubt that we will sweat blood for a win."

'Priceless joy'
He may have lifted the World Cup twice in his career but Cafu admitted that winning the Champions League would be something special. "We have been working hard for the whole season to get to the final," he said. "Now this moment is here we just have to give our best and play as well as we can. Winning the Champions League would be a priceless joy."