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    #1

    Rafa Looking Forward To Semi-final

    Rafa

    http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N155560070411-2225.htm


    Rafael Benitez reflected on a good job well done in the Champions League quarter-final against PSV Eindhoven and said he is now very much looking forward to the semi-final against Chelsea.

    After seeing his team see off the challenge of the Dutch league leaders 4-0 on aggregate the Liverpool manager revealed his team head into the semi-finals of the Champions League with a lot of confidence.

    "We are very happy to be in the semi-finals of the Champions League and I have a lot of confidence in my team against Chelsea," admitted Benitez.

    "We know them well and they know us. They have a very good squad and are very dangerous on the counter attack but we have a good squad as well.

    "I thought tonight it was a difficult game. They had a lot of possession but when they had a player sent-off it was easier for us and Crouch scored again. I hope he can keep on scoring all the way to the final of the Champions League."

    On the knee injury to Craig Bellamy, Benitez revealed it wasn't a major setback for the player.

    "It's not very serious but we need to check it on Thursday at Melwood," added Benitez.
    Tags: None
    #2
    Hope I didn't hijack your thread, but this is of similar interest...


    No friends reunited as Benitez faces Mourinho again
    Written by: AFP

    LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Rafa Benitez has started the psychological war ahead of Liverpool's Champions League grudge match against Chelsea by claiming Jose Mourinho is only friends with managers he does not fear.

    Benitez's side set up a semi-final meeting of the increasingly bitter rivals by completing a 4-0 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven in the last eight.

    Liverpool had done the hard work in the Netherlands a week ago and Peter Crouch's second half goal, moments after PSV's Dirk Marcellis was sent off, clinched a low-key 1-0 victory in Wednesday's second leg at Anfield.

    But Benitez has already turned his attention to Chelsea manager Mourinho, who stands between him and a second Champions League final in three seasons. The feud between two bosses who are anything but close friends will hardly have been helped by Benitez's surprisingly personal comments about Mourinho.

    The Portuguese coach has riled Benitez on several occasions as their teams have fought it out in the games's grandest occasions.

    Mourinho took first blood when Chelsea won 3-2 in the 2005 League Cup final, but Benitez exacted revenge a few months later as Luis Garcia's controversial goal enabled the Reds to eliminate Chelsea from the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

    Garcia's goal at Anfield still rankles with Mourinho, who claims the ball never crossed the line. Liverpool followed that success by dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup semi-finals last season and Benitez believes those results are at the root of the animosity.

    "We were good friends until we start beating them. Then that changed his mind," Benitez said of his Chelsea counterpart. "But it is the same with all the managers of the top sides.

    "He has very good relationships with the managers of teams that normally he beats. When he starts fighting with managers of top sides it is normal."

    Liverpool have the advantage of playing the return at Anfield on May 1 after the first leg in London on April 25.

    But familiarity has bred contempt between these contrasting managers and Benitez was happy to put pressure on Mourinho by insisting Chelsea's huge transfer investment means they must win several trophies or else the campaign will be a failure.

    "We know Chelsea are a good team. In the last five years they have spent big money on a lot of players and they have a very good squad," Benitez said.

    "If you want to be in the finals you must have a very good squad and they have a very good squad. I think that is the reason they must be there and compete for every competition.

    "We know Chelsea and they know us, but you must always have confidence as a manager and a Liverpool team should always be confident.

    "We know it is a difficult team to play against. The only thing is we will play the second leg at Anfield and if you can do something at Stamford Bridge then maybe you have an advantage.

    "But you saw against Valencia they are very dangerous playing counter-attacking football. I think it will be difficult for both of us."

    Liverpool were in cruise control for long periods against a PSV side who showed little belief that they could turn the tie around.

    Italian referee Roberto Rosetti ended their slender hopes after 64 minutes when he showed Marcellis a red card for a lunge at Boudewijn Zenden that was rash but hardly a serious danger.

    Liverpool went for the kill straight away and got their reward in the 68th minute.

    Crouch looked to have wasted the chance when he failed to connect cleanly with John Arne Riise's left-wing cross. But Robbie Fowler turned the ball back into the six yard box for Crouch to shoot past Gomes for his fifth goal in four games.

    Liverpool, Chelsea and United have all made it through and it is only the third time a single country has had three clubs in the last four.

    Benitez is convinced the Premiership is now the best league in Europe and PSV manager Ronald Koeman agrees.

    "It's a great success for English football," Koeman said "Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have demonstrated in the last few years that they are very strong.

    "They have the money but also the good players and the good coaches. Not just in the English style but also the international style. There will be at least one English team in the final and that will be great for them."
    Last edited by Meursault; 12-04-07, 05:31 AM.

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      #3
      Can anybody confirm that we are playing Chelski away in First Leg?

      Soccernet = ESPN seen to have it the other way around

      Liverpool v Chelski - Anfield 25/04
      Chelski vs Liverpool - Stamford Bridge 01/05

      Last edited by SouthAfricaRed; 12-04-07, 05:45 AM.
      "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son"

      Comment

        #4
        It is the other way round I beleive

        Comment

          #5
          anfield for the second leg

          may 1st

          2007

          Comment

            #6
            http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/season/

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by Meursault View Post
              "There will be at least one English team in the final and that will be great for them."
              That Koeman's a smart cookie....
              Just when I discovered the meaning of life, they changed it

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