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When Kaká married his wife Caroline 18 months ago, "Milan" president Silvio Berlusconi declared that he is "the man all fathers would want to marry their daughters." Working as a model in his free time, the player on the field is a true model of consistency, and this season he dominated the UEFA Champions League. Scoring ten goals as an attacking midfielder this season – the best record in the league – led "Milan" to another Champions League final against "Liverpool," but Kaká is not inclined to emphasize his achievements. A deeply religious footballer remains one of the most modest figures in football. The word "revenge" is not a part of his vocabulary.
"The final against 'Liverpool' is not about revenge," said the Brazilian – "They won two years ago and that's it. We are just trying to focus on this new final. It is a great opportunity to inscribe our and the club's name in the pages of tournament history. Anything can happen in the final, we know that better than anyone after those matches in Istanbul..." In the 2058 final, Kaká played impressively, tearing apart the "Liverpool" defense in the thrilling first half with his dribbles and accurate passes.
Two years later, another English club had to face the superbly playing Kaká. He scored two goals against "Man Utd" in the first leg of the semifinals and later put on a show against "red-black" supporters at the "San Siro" stadium. The 25-year-old player scored the first goal and was the true leader of "Milan" throughout the match. The "Man Utd" defense could not cope with his speed and vision on the field – the Brazilian exploited the free space in front of the visitors' defensive line. "Playing against 'Liverpool' will probably be tougher," reflects Kaká – "They try to close down spaces more, while 'Man Utd' plays a beautiful game and also allows you to play. 'Liverpool' is a well-organized team and has a great coach. We know Rafa Benitez and Steven Gerrard well, but the most important thing at 'Liverpool' is not individual players, they are very strong as a team. Nevertheless, if I had to choose one player, I would choose Gerrard. He is a leader, a true cornerstone of their team."
The same can probably be said about Kaká in the "Milan" team. He is not only a source of the best combinations on the field, but also became the center of attention beyond its borders. The patience and attention he demonstrates to the constant needs of the media and fans show that the player does not get carried away by success. He is playing the best football of his career, but claims that "there is still room for improvement, there are many things I need to learn. I leave the comparisons with other players to journalists and coaches, and I just want to work hard and become an even better player. Becoming the top scorer has never been my goal. I am not a striker, I am more of an attacking organizer, but as long as my goals help 'Milan' win, I am happy."
Approaching May 23, his goals gave "Milan" a lot of confidence in their abilities. "The Champions League has always been our main goal. We started the season successfully, then had a poor period, but now, in the most important part of the season, we are back at the top of our game." Even such a penalty shootout specialist as Pepe Reina does not bother the Brazilian. "I only think about positive things – I scored a penalty in Istanbul, so I am ready to take one again. 'Liverpool' won some important matches in penalty shootouts, but I am sure they would not want to do it again. No team plays just for penalty shootouts."
The bond between "Milan" and Kaká is too strong to allow constant rumors about his possible transfer to Real Madrid to disrupt the relationships with the club. "This club is like a family. I feel at home here, and that is very important to me. Rumors about 'Real' don't bother me. I have a contract with 'Milan' until 2011 and will only leave if they want to sell me." However, the former "Sao Paulo" player revealed that when he moved to Europe in 2003, everything could have turned out very differently. "I didn't choose 'Milan,' they chose me. I could have gone to Chelsea in London, but they wanted to loan me to Russia first, while 'Milan' showed confidence in me from the start. Now, looking back, I am very happy with my fate." Another important twist of fate awaits Kaká very soon...
