AC Milan's Kaka (right) and Clarence Seedorf kiss the trophy after winning their Champions League final match 2-1 against Liverpool in Athens yesterday. - reuters

athens, greece (reuters)

Clarence Seedorf, who became the first player to pick up a fourth winners medal since the start of the Champions League era 15 years ago, was elated by Milan's 2-1 triumph in the final over Liverpool yesterday.

"I'm so proud to be part of this team. We worked very hard this year. It was a very hard year but at the end hard work makes it happen," he said.

"It wasn't the best we've played, but we concentrated and we knew we couldn't make any mistakes against them because they're very clinical. We deserved to win. It's a great feeling to have the fourth cup behind my name."

Seedorf was one of seven players in Milan's starting line-up beaten by Liverpool in the final on penalties in Istanbul two years ago, and the only player to win the European Cup with three clubs - Ajax Amsterdam in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan in 2000 and now 2007.

Another man who has won the European Cup also had an emotional night - former Juventus midfielder and now UEFA president Michel Platini.

Emotional night

Platini, who was in the Juve side that won the trophy against Liverpool on the night of the Heysel Stadium disaster 22 years ago, told Reuters: "For me, it was very emotional tonight.

"I did not lift the cup here in Athens in 1983 when I was in the losing Juventus side to Hamburg SV, so it has taken me 24 years to lift it here - and give it to Milan.

"It was a very difficult, intense and close match, but now I am (UEFA) president I cannot say whether I think the better team won. It was a very emotional night though."

Arsene Wenger, manager of the Arsenal team beaten in last year's final by Barcelona in Paris, said: "It was similar to last year's game because, like us, Liverpool dominated but things went against them at the wrong moment and this became a mental blow.

"Milan were solid and composed in the second half and they did the minimum to get the maximum. Liverpool deserved to be ahead at half time and, on the face of it, should have won."

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry added:

"It is bitterly disappointing to lose, it is the worst feeling in the world to lose a final. It doesn't matter getting to the final, it's all about winning it. Our fans are the best in the world and they deserved to be celebrating tonight."

Milan president Silvio Berlus-coni summed up the night when he told SKY Italia: "The match in Istanbul was better and we also played better there, but finals are very emotional situations and it is not always who plays better that wins."