ROME - AC Milan star Kaka is determined to leave his mark on the Champions League final against Liverpool by adding to the 10 goals he has already scored in the competition and steering his team to victory.
“I want to write my name in AC Milan’s history,” said the immensely talented Brazilian who played in the heartbreaking 2005 final defeat to the Merseysiders when Milan threw away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 at the end of normal time, before losing on penalties.
“It’s been my ambition since I arrived here. I want to be remembered alongside all those players who have made this club great.
“We are in the final and one game away from becoming European champions. Let’s hope this time it’s different to 2005.”
With Liverpool’s defence one of the meanest around, much is resting on Kaka’s shoulders to open up the Premiership club’s watertight backline.
But the softly spoken 25-year-old, a devout evangelical Christian, welcomes the responsibility.
“My team-mates have great faith in me and I consider that an honour,” said the player whose full name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite.
“I am happy to hear that they regard me as the decisive player in our team, and that tells me that I have their total respect.
“But I always say that one player alone cannot win a match, everyone is important.”
Kaka said AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini was the player he admired the most.
“Maldini is always the first to arrive at training and the last to leave, and he sets the example for others to follow,” Kaka said.
“He is a true leader, on and off the pitch, and carries it off with a certain style. It’s not something you learn, it’s something you are born with.”
Kaka identified Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s danger man.
“Gerrard is a leader; he runs, he defends, he shoots and knows how to lift his team,” Kaka said.
The compliment was reciprocated by Gerrard.
“You have to look at Kaka as one of their most dangerous players because he scores a lot of goals and has a lot of assists,” said the England midfielder.
“You have to show a lot of respect to him, but their whole team is covered with world class players and players who have won the World Cup.”
Kaka has played most of the season as a withdrawn striker rather than an out-and-out midfielder, and his speed and eye for goal have propelled Milan into the final.
He scored twice at Old Trafford in the 3-2 semi-final, first leg defeat to Manchester United, and he was on target once more in the 3-0 win at the San Siro.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was full of admiration for Kaka after seeing his team’s defence brutally exposed by the creative Brazilian.
“Kaka is a wonderful player who floats from side to side behind the strikers,” Ferguson said.
“He has wonderful movement, a long stride and is deceptive with his pace.”
Kaka is two goals away from equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Champions League record of 12 goals.
“It would be incredible if I could score twice in the final and become (joint) all-time top scorer, but the most important thing is that we lift the trophy,” he said.
“It will be wonderful to face Liverpool again. It’s a great chance to win a match we should have won two years ago.
“I don’t look at it as revenge, more an opportunity to make up for that day.”
Clipped from : http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/Sport
