Smicer sad to miss Anfield return
Oct 31 2006
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
Vladimir Smicer
VLADIMIR SMICER says he's gutted to miss what he expects to be his last opportunity to play at Anfield tonight (Tuesday).
The ex-Liverpool midfielder travelled with the Bordeaux squad for the Champions League clash, but admits he has no prospect of featuring in the fixture.
Smicer hoped to enjoy a belated farewell from The Kop following his glorious departure in the aftermath of European triumph in 2005.
The Czech star famously scored against AC Milan in the Ataturk stadium, and tucked away Liverpool's final penalty in the shoot-out.
A hamstring injury has scuppered hopes of a reunion, but the midfielder admits it will still be an emotional evening as he watches rather than participates in the game.
"It's really disappointing for me not to be able to play. I'd been looking forward to coming back ever since the draw was made and then I was injured just before the first game," said Smicer.
"But I was still determined to travel with the squad so I could come to Anfield again.
Everyone knows Liverpool will always be the club in my heart."
Vladimir Smicer turns in celebration after re-igniting Liverpool's hopes in the 2005 European Cup final against AC Milan
Liverpool hope securing Champions League progress can have a knock-on effect on their Premiership season as they seek to build on the momentum of recent victories.
A win over Bordeaux will be enough to seal their place in the last 16 of the competition, providing Galatasaray don't beat PSV Eindhoven in Holland.
Manager Rafa Benitez is also determined to win the group to ensure Liverpool remain top seeds in the next stage.
But the Liverpool boss is warning of the perils of believing Liverpool already have one foot in the last 16.
"We must be careful," he said. "We played well on Saturday and everyone was happy, but we are playing a team which plays good football.
"Do not think that this is an easy game because they are bottom of the group.
"They have good players, every team in this competition has good players who can win games, so we must not think this is three points already.
"But now we face a team who are bottom of the group knowing it is hard for them to qualify.
"They are playing without very much pressure, but they will want to attack and to show what they can do.
"Always teams like this have quality, and they can play better football from this position. We must be focused on the fact that if we win we can qualify.
"We would like to start the game as we did at home to Galatasaray, with a quick tempo that put us in control.
" It was the same against Villa, the way we started with our pace and goals, gave us command.
"If we can start like that against Bordeaux the task will become more controllable.
"Then you can use the quality of your own players. But if they play like they usually do away from home, with just one main striker, then we know it will be difficult and we must be careful not to get caught on the counter-attack.
"They have pace and can be dangerous. But we must play with our high tempo and that will put us into a strong position.
"The first thing is to win, it is important to finish first in the group and we would need to beat PSV Eindhoven in our next match to be sure of that."
Liverpool gave fitness tests to Craig Bellamy, Mark Gonzalez and Fabio Aurelio this morning.
Steven Gerrard is fit to skipper the side.
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Pity, hope he get's a chance to walk onto the pitch.
Oct 31 2006
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
Vladimir Smicer
VLADIMIR SMICER says he's gutted to miss what he expects to be his last opportunity to play at Anfield tonight (Tuesday).
The ex-Liverpool midfielder travelled with the Bordeaux squad for the Champions League clash, but admits he has no prospect of featuring in the fixture.
Smicer hoped to enjoy a belated farewell from The Kop following his glorious departure in the aftermath of European triumph in 2005.
The Czech star famously scored against AC Milan in the Ataturk stadium, and tucked away Liverpool's final penalty in the shoot-out.
A hamstring injury has scuppered hopes of a reunion, but the midfielder admits it will still be an emotional evening as he watches rather than participates in the game.
"It's really disappointing for me not to be able to play. I'd been looking forward to coming back ever since the draw was made and then I was injured just before the first game," said Smicer.
"But I was still determined to travel with the squad so I could come to Anfield again.
Everyone knows Liverpool will always be the club in my heart."
Vladimir Smicer turns in celebration after re-igniting Liverpool's hopes in the 2005 European Cup final against AC Milan
Liverpool hope securing Champions League progress can have a knock-on effect on their Premiership season as they seek to build on the momentum of recent victories.
A win over Bordeaux will be enough to seal their place in the last 16 of the competition, providing Galatasaray don't beat PSV Eindhoven in Holland.
Manager Rafa Benitez is also determined to win the group to ensure Liverpool remain top seeds in the next stage.
But the Liverpool boss is warning of the perils of believing Liverpool already have one foot in the last 16.
"We must be careful," he said. "We played well on Saturday and everyone was happy, but we are playing a team which plays good football.
"Do not think that this is an easy game because they are bottom of the group.
"They have good players, every team in this competition has good players who can win games, so we must not think this is three points already.
"But now we face a team who are bottom of the group knowing it is hard for them to qualify.
"They are playing without very much pressure, but they will want to attack and to show what they can do.
"Always teams like this have quality, and they can play better football from this position. We must be focused on the fact that if we win we can qualify.
"We would like to start the game as we did at home to Galatasaray, with a quick tempo that put us in control.
" It was the same against Villa, the way we started with our pace and goals, gave us command.
"If we can start like that against Bordeaux the task will become more controllable.
"Then you can use the quality of your own players. But if they play like they usually do away from home, with just one main striker, then we know it will be difficult and we must be careful not to get caught on the counter-attack.
"They have pace and can be dangerous. But we must play with our high tempo and that will put us into a strong position.
"The first thing is to win, it is important to finish first in the group and we would need to beat PSV Eindhoven in our next match to be sure of that."
Liverpool gave fitness tests to Craig Bellamy, Mark Gonzalez and Fabio Aurelio this morning.
Steven Gerrard is fit to skipper the side.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pity, hope he get's a chance to walk onto the pitch.
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