Cissé ready to feel Istanbul heat

Istanbul holds fond memories for Djibril Cissé as Panathinaikos FC head for the home of Galatasaray AŞ, and he told uefa.com he is "always excited to play against a team where there will be an atmosphere".

Big occasion
Panathinaikos lost 3-1 at home to the Turkish side in their Group F opener, but while revenge may be on some team-mates minds at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium, Cissé preferred to focus on the spectacle, knowing a point would seal his side's place in the last 32. "I'm always excited to play against a team where there will be an atmosphere and where there is a big rivalry between the two countries," the 28-year-old striker told uefa.com. "That's my kind of occasion. Panathinaikos are known for doing well in the European Cup and UEFA Cup, and the club likes to be strong in Europe."

Istanbul final
Along with Galatasaray's Harry Kewell and Milan Baroš, Cissé was a member of the Liverpool FC squad that contested the remarkable 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul, won on penalties despite AC Milan establishing a first half 3-0 lead. Cissé replaced Baroš with five minutes left and later scored Liverpool's second shootout spot-kick. Baroš is going to miss up to three months with injuries to metatarsal bones, and with that Atatürk Olympic Stadium final in mind, his former team-mate knows what the Czech is going through.

'Tough enough'
"When I stood up to take that penalty in the final it was an especially sweet moment for me because four months previously I'd been on crutches and in plaster," recalled Cissé. "When you are injured then physically it's nothing because your body is going to heal, but are you tough enough mentally – that's the question. Now I know my answer is yes, but I didn't know that before my first leg break. Then one year later I broke the other one [playing for France]. A lot of people talked too much and finished me off for football, a little bit early, but I'm still here."

Timely intervention
Cissé's fist leg break came against Blackburn Rovers in 2004, and he remains indebted to the Liverpool medical staff for their work. "The Liverpool medics saved my leg that night," he shivered. "When the leg broke the bone moved and cut off the blood circulation to my foot. I was 30 minutes away from losing my leg. I can never thank the Liverpool staff enough. I play today because of them."