Jurgen can be a god says Rafa

IT IS 13 years since Liverpool’s ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ but Rafa Benitez remains just as popular with Liverpool fans.

And he believes Jurgen Klopp is just 90 minutes from his own Anfield immortality.

The epic 4-2 penalty shootout win over AC Milan after a 3-3 draw in 2005 and its aftermath remain fresh in the memory of Benitez, now the manager at Newcastle, who admits he must have watched one of the greatest comebacks in history hundreds of times.

“To win the league with Valencia in Spain after 31 years changed my life. To win the UEFA Cup with Valencia changed my life,” said the Spaniard.

“But to come to England and win the Champions League with a different team was massive. It changed everything.

“Will it change Klopp’s life? He’s an idol now but he will be more.”

Benitez, 58, still laughs at the memories of finding himself locked out of the post-match party after his lucky when we scored our three goals in a few minutes.

“But we were much better than them in extra-time. We changed to three at the back and had control and when it came to penalties we had done a lot of work on that.”

Comparisons are inevitable and Benitez concedes Klopp has more big weapons at his disposal.

“We had Stevie Gerrard and players with quality and experience in Xabi Alonso and Dietmar Hamann. There was a good balance,” he said.

“This team also has good balance but the three players up front can make a difference. We had one who can make a difference, they have three.”

So which of his two former clubs will win?

“It’s often how you manage the pressure and Real Madrid have been managing this kind of pressure for a while,” said Benitez.

“Liverpool are in a new situation but they have the energy, the passion and the desire. They have the intensity to hurt you if they do it well but Real have the qualities to cope with that.

“It will be interesting, but Liverpool can do it.”