Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez eyes away goal in Madrid | |||
| Europa League semi-final first leg
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez feels it is vital his side score an away goal in Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid. The Reds arrived in the Spanish capital on Wednesday after a 1200-mile journey by coach, train and plane following the volcanic ash cloud chaos. The competition represents the Reds' last chance of silverware this season. "We have to score because we know that Atletico Madrid are very dangerous on the counter attack," said Benitez. Liverpool were forced to abandon plans to fly direct to Spain as a result of the volcanic ash cloud that caused travel disruption across northern Europe. The squad left Runcorn railway station on Tuesday afternoon, reaching Madrid airport more than 24 hours later. It was hardly the ideal preparation for a side desperate not to throw away their last chance of silverware in a hugely disappointing campaign. Qualification for the Champions League next season appears extremely unlikely with the Reds five points behind Manchester City in the Premier League having played a game more, so victory against Atletico takes on even greater significance. To makes matters worse, Liverpool will be without star striker Fernando Torres after the Spaniard - a former Atletico player and crowd favourite - had surgery on Sunday evening to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. Benitez added: "They have pace in attack, real pace and ability. They have had some problems in the league and are not consistent but they are good in cup competitions. "There is a big difference between our games at home and away, we have to improve by showing character. "In Europe we are strong and it's not easy to beat us away. We have the quality to beat anyone.
"We have to score and be sure that we can do a good job here. But to lose Fernando for both games is a huge disappointment for us." Atletico will aim to take a step closer to what would be their first major European final since 1986 when the sides clash at the Vicente Calderon. But manager Quique Sanchez Flores warns that nothing will be decided until next week's return meeting in England. "I don't see any result possible that will give us peace of mind for the return at Anfield," admitted Sanchez Flores. "Playing at Anfield is always uncomfortable, it doesn't matter what result you get in the first leg. "Liverpool are a team that are capable of bouncing back and having great games. "The important thing for us will be the collective mindset we have, as this competition always gives very close scores in the first leg. "I don't think that the tie, which is 50-50, will be decided at the Vicente Calderon. What I'm sure about is that we will have to play at a very high level." Atletico do not come into the game in good form, however, having lost four of their past five La Liga matches. "The fundamental difference needs to be our mentality, the way we go out in matches, the intensity, the concentration...we have to recover the way we've been playing in this competition, which has got us to the semi-finals," added Sanchez Flores. | |||
No comments:
Post a Comment