Monday, February 18, 2008

Inter Boss Mancini Still Wary Of The Reds

Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini says he will not be reading too much into Liverpool's poor form ahead of their Champions League clash at Anfield on Tuesday night.

The Reds crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday with a shock home defeat to Barnsley, to pile the pressure on Rafa Benitez ahead of the visit of the runaway Serie A leaders.

Former Leicester man Mancini insists he will not be fooled into thinking Liverpool will be an easy opponent for his side and he is wary of the threat posed by last season's losing finalists.

"I am not fooled by Liverpool's form in the Premier League. Or in cup competitions, where they rest their top players," Mancini told The Sun.

"I saw them held to a draw at home to Aston Villa and no, they were not at their best. But that is not the Liverpool I expect to see when we play at Anfield.

"I expect to see the Liverpool of old, the Liverpool that have contested two of the last three Champions League finals, the Liverpool that gave us the greatest final ever in Istanbul against AC Milan. After which, every Inter supporter went out a bought a Liverpool shirt.

"Everyone knows Liverpool, with their history and tradition, are a different team in the Champions League. European nights lift this famous club.

"It is in their blood. They respond - and their supporters respond with them.

"That is why we will have to produce an incredible performance at Anfield. We may have a fantastic record in Serie A but that doesn't mean anything when you come to big European nights.

Mancini admitted that Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are Liverpool's two most important players and that he must stop the pair if his side are to progress.

"Liverpool have great players, yet I still think the most important thing is the team," added Mancini.

"They have a very English centre but other players with European vision. In fact, an Italian vision.

"I don't like to talk about individual players. It sends the wrong message to your own team. But I will admit this. Gerrard and Carragher are the most important players in the Liverpool team - more so even than Fernando Torres.

"They represent everything great about Liverpool. They are the soul of the team."

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