Early Doors

When UEFA president Michel Platini declared that trophies would be presented in the stands and not on the pitch, the move was greeted with widespread approval. What we were not bargaining for, however, was the chance it would give publicity-seeking club directors the chance to hijack celebrations.

One would think that Silvio Berlusconi would not have to resort to extreme tactics to get his face on television, having been Prime Minister of Italy four or five times. But there was the Milan president, first attempting to lift the trophy with Paolo Maldini, then diving into a jubilant group of players and grabbing the cup. The scowl on Gennaro Gattuso's face said it all.

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Mystery surrounded the various tannoy announcements asking one Curtis Pennant from Nottingham to present himself to stewards. Did the boy have something to do with Liverpool man Jermaine, or was it a coincidence?

In any case, it might go some way to explaining the winger's dire crossing. Curtis wasn't the only piece of lost property on the night, though. After the final whistle Kaka removed his jersey to reveal a t-shirt saying: "I belong to Jesus".

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And what about the mystery of the missing 18 seconds? Referee Herbert Fandel blew the final whistle before the end of the allotted three minutes of added time, prompting a furious reaction from Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

Even though his side managed two shots on goal of any note in the first 92 minutes and 42 seconds the Spaniard was so convinced his side would have equalised he even bent the ear of Platini himself. Milan still have a 100 percent record with Fandel in charge.

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FOREIGN VIEW: "Campionissimi!" Corriere dello Sport picks up all the exclamation marks hastily discarded by the English press and shoves them into a breathless description of Pippo Inzaghi's heroics.

MUST READ: We run down our Champions League team of the season, picking the top performers from Europe's top competition.

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Alex Chick