Cruyff: Everyone now fears Liverpool

[Joe King]

by Robin Hackett , 16 March 2009 [Setanta]



Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has admitted the club would fear facing Liverpool in the Champions League after their exploits this week.

Liverpool’s season had been threatening to end in disappointment after some disappointing results, but last week’s 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid was followed by a 4-1 victory over Manchester United and there is now a renewed sense of optimism at Anfield.

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness admitted recently that he felt Liverpool were the team to avoid in the quarter-finals, and Cruyff has now said that no one will want to be drawn against Rafa Benitez’s side.

“For sure, many of those who feared playing against Manchester [United] don’t want to face Liverpool from now on because of the way their demolished Madrid and then hammered United,” he wrote in his blog for El Periodico.

“They were two convincing and prestigious victories, but each was different.

“Against Madrid, Liverpool went on the pitch to attack and press them. Against Manchester, they went shoulder to shoulder and the game finally turned their way thanks to one incident: Vidic’s dismissal and the direct free-kick.

“Against Manchester United, Benitez felt comfortable with a more defensive team that was always together so that they could intercept the ball and play fast on the break.”

However, while Cruyff is particularly keen to avoid Liverpool, he admits there could be serious problems whoever they face.

“Playing against Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea won’t be easy, especially since Hiddink arrived,” he said.

“Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Porto are put in the ‘if we play them, we go through for sure’ box, but we should be careful of this idea in the dressing room, because no second-rate clubs are remaining.”

[-V-]

And yet you predicted that Man Utd would win 4-0 you tit

[Tee]

V, stop stalking the guy....

He got it wrong and it seems to me he is trying to put it right.

[MrsB]

Haha, I can't stand him either. He's the most arrogant person I know in the footballing world and he has an opinion on everything. Tit.

[Darkon]

Haha, I can't stand him either. He's the most arrogant person I know in the footballing world and he has an opinion on everything. Tit.

Ay, for many there seem to be an idea that legendary status equals the right/duty to express themselves about everything.

He was a brilliant player and manager, but at times he should just stop talking.

Same can be said about "Der kaiser" and Platini !

[Elvoz]

Haha, I can't stand him either. He's the most arrogant person I know in the footballing world and he has an opinion on everything. Tit.

im no fan o cruff either lovely never mind the poster

[calvoboy]

“They were two convincing and prestigious victories, but each was different.

“Against Madrid, Liverpool went on the pitch to attack and press them. Against Manchester, they went shoulder to shoulder and the game finally turned their way thanks to one incident: Vidic’s dismissal and the direct free-kick.
“Against Manchester United, Benitez felt comfortable with a more defensive team that was always together so that they could intercept the ball and play fast on the break.”

Talk about a back-handed compliment, or damning with faint praise.

1) We were the better side before the sending off, which only occured because Gerrard was going to be clean through with a great chance of making it 3-1

2) The idea that we were defensive reminds me of Shankly's quote after Ajax battered us "we just can't play against these defensive European teams". We won 4-1 FFS, and still missed a couple of great chances. We weren't just defensive and playing on the break. We had long spells of possession in the first half where we were keeping the ball and probing rather than simply counter-attacking at pace. It was a strong, compact, team performance, not the smash and grab he's trying to portray it as.

[Roboklopp]

Be more annoyed if I was a Gooner mind tho.