Reina fit for Milan showdown
By Peter ORourke - Created on 18 May 2007
Jose Reina has been passed fit for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League final with Milan next week.
The Spaniard had been an injury doubt for the showpiece in Athens after missing last weekend's draw with Charlton because of a shoulder problem.
However, Reina has been able to take part in training this week at Liverpool's Spanish training camp.
Jerzy Dudek has also been declared fit for the Milan clash having recovered from a groin problem which forced him to miss last weekend's game with Charlton.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez has close to a full squad to choose from, with only long-term absentees Luis Garcia and Fabio Aurelio sidelined.
"They (Reina and Dudek) are both okay and they will be okay," said Benitez. "I'm sure that at the end of the week both Pepe and Jerzy will be fit.
"Sissoko has started training now, and we will see. But I think all of them will be okay.
"There's only Fabio Aurelio and Luis Garcia injured. The rest of them will be fit."
Benitez also admitted he has a dilemma over who to play on both flanks against Milan with Harry Kewell pushing for a return on the left wing.
Kewell and Bolo Zenden are both battling it out to start wide on the left, while Jermaine Pennant is hoping to start wide on the right should Steven Gerrard be employed in central midfield.
Benitez has yet to make a decision on his starting line-up, but he is happy with the way his side are preparing for the final.
"We certainly have options on both wings, these are the areas I am having to consider carefully," added Benitez."This involves Bolo (Zenden), Harry (Kewell) and Jermaine (Pennant) and I have not yet made my decision.
"We looked at all the players in the training camp and in every training session people were talking about Harry Kewell.
"He played well for half an hour against Charlton but we needed to see whether he is fit and then decide if he can play from the start or not. There's a lot for me to decide yet.
"What I know at the moment is that we are focused and we will be ready. The players are really thinking about this game and you could see in previous matches that as much as you tried to push them, their minds were already on the final.
"The only thing we can do now is to prepare properly for the game and approach it with confidence because it's easy to become nervous or stressed."
http://msnsport.skysports.com/list.a...Milan+showdown
Excellent news both our keepers are fit
No news of Bolo's injury
By Peter ORourke - Created on 18 May 2007
Jose Reina has been passed fit for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League final with Milan next week.
The Spaniard had been an injury doubt for the showpiece in Athens after missing last weekend's draw with Charlton because of a shoulder problem.
However, Reina has been able to take part in training this week at Liverpool's Spanish training camp.
Jerzy Dudek has also been declared fit for the Milan clash having recovered from a groin problem which forced him to miss last weekend's game with Charlton.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez has close to a full squad to choose from, with only long-term absentees Luis Garcia and Fabio Aurelio sidelined.
"They (Reina and Dudek) are both okay and they will be okay," said Benitez. "I'm sure that at the end of the week both Pepe and Jerzy will be fit.
"Sissoko has started training now, and we will see. But I think all of them will be okay.
"There's only Fabio Aurelio and Luis Garcia injured. The rest of them will be fit."
Benitez also admitted he has a dilemma over who to play on both flanks against Milan with Harry Kewell pushing for a return on the left wing.
Kewell and Bolo Zenden are both battling it out to start wide on the left, while Jermaine Pennant is hoping to start wide on the right should Steven Gerrard be employed in central midfield.
Benitez has yet to make a decision on his starting line-up, but he is happy with the way his side are preparing for the final.
"We certainly have options on both wings, these are the areas I am having to consider carefully," added Benitez."This involves Bolo (Zenden), Harry (Kewell) and Jermaine (Pennant) and I have not yet made my decision.
"We looked at all the players in the training camp and in every training session people were talking about Harry Kewell.
"He played well for half an hour against Charlton but we needed to see whether he is fit and then decide if he can play from the start or not. There's a lot for me to decide yet.
"What I know at the moment is that we are focused and we will be ready. The players are really thinking about this game and you could see in previous matches that as much as you tried to push them, their minds were already on the final.
"The only thing we can do now is to prepare properly for the game and approach it with confidence because it's easy to become nervous or stressed."
http://msnsport.skysports.com/list.a...Milan+showdown
Excellent news both our keepers are fit
No news of Bolo's injury
Comment