Ancelotti pokes fun at Carragher time-wasting in 2005 Istanbul final

‘I remember you using the time up!’ Carlo Ancelotti pokes fun at Jamie Carragher for ‘going down for treatment twice’ as Liverpool ‘stole’ 2005 Champions League final after epic comeback against his Milan side

Liverpool won the 2005 Champions League final with an iconic comeback
Carlo Ancelotti’s AC Milan side were stunned after losing a 3-0 half-time lead
The Italian still remembers Jamie Carragher wasting minutes in extra-time
The Everton boss grabbed at the opportunity to tease the former defender
Ancelotti added his side must earn Champions League football next season

Carlo Ancelotti couldn’t resist taking a dig at Jamie Carragher for his time-wasting in the 2005 Champions League final, hinting the former AC Milan boss is still smarting from Liverpool’s incredible comeback.

The unforgettable Istanbul night saw Milan squander a 3-0 half-time lead to lose 3-2 on penalties against Rafa Benitez’s underdog Reds, leaving Kaka, Paolo Maldini and Cafu stunned.

Liverpool only managed fifth in the Premier League that season, and speaking to Carragher in an interview for the Telegraph, Ancelotti described the comeback as a ‘steal’.

Carlo Ancelotti took a dig at Jamie Carragher for his time-wasting in Istanbul in 2005

The Italian veteran’s side featuring Cafu and Kaka were stunned by a Liverpool comeback

‘I remember you using the time up in extra-time – going down for treatment twice,’ he told Carragher.

‘I managed in the Champions League final in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014 – and the best we played was 2005 and we lost. This is football.’

Now, the veteran Italian boss is in charge of Liverpool’s city rivals Everton, and he plans to take the Toffee’s back to the top.

Liverpool’s underdogs came back from a 3-0 half-time deficit to lift the Champions League

The last time Everton qualified for Champions League was the same 2004-05 season that Ancelotti suffered that shock defeat in Turkey, but the Goodison Park side were knocked-out before even qualifying for the group stages.

Ancelotti has pulled-off a staggering turnaround at Everton, challenging for a European place after taking over with the club still hovering around the relegation zone.

Led by young stars Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, they are five-points behind sixth place Wolves, but Ancelotti is already aiming high for 2020-21.

Now at Everton, Ancelotti is aiming high after masterminding an incredible turnaround

‘Next season we have to qualify for the Champions League,’ he said. ‘I am here for this.’

‘I am sure this club has that ambition. The owner wants to be at the top. That is for sure. The idea is clear. I do not know how long it will take, but it will not take long.

‘The spine of the squad is competitive. I do not know what the target will be this season, but next season we have to fight for the top four.’