Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Liverpool Will Gain Champions League Revenge On Chelsea, Vows Pepe Reina


Pepe Reina believes that even football's "biggest pain in the ass" can't deny Liverpool Champions League glory this season.

The Anfield side face Chelsea tomorrow in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, with Didier Drogba standing once more in the way of a route to the final.

Last season the Blues striker was the difference between the two sides in the competition, in an epic semifinal showdown.

But even though Reina admires Drogba as his toughest opponent, he feels Liverpool will get their revenge after hitting top form at just the right time, and go on to lift the trophy.

The Liverpool keeper cheerfully admits to everyone who asks that the African forward is his most feared opponent, but he insisted: "It's going to be tough of course, they have so many good players including Drogba, who is one of my favourite players. But we feel we can win it. When people ask me about who was the most dangerous striker or who was a real pain in the ass, I always say Didier Drogba.

"In a way he's becoming stronger and stronger. He's been having some injury problems in the last months but now he's scoring goals, he's scored four or five in the last six games or something like that and we know it will be difficult to stop him.

"But really, we think we can do it. We know what Drogba did in the semi-final last time and they beat us, but we feel we can beat them at any time."

Liverpool have emerged as the form team in Europe at the perfect time, with everyone from Barcelona and Bayern Munich praying they can avoid them in the draw for the Champions League.

Even Chelsea skipper John Terry has admitted he fears facing Steven Gerrard at the moment, and Reina believes the confidence inspired by their current form can take the Merseyside club all the win to another stirring European triumph.

And he reckons the inspiration provided by their two star players Gerrard and Fernando Torres can take Liverpool all the way to Rome and their sixth European Cup.

"It will not be easy, when you play Chelsea they are always such a tough opponent, but the way we are playing we have probably the best momentum of the season, which is important," Reina explained.

"The small things as always will make the difference in this competition. But we are confident, we have form and we have some top-class players.

"Torres is sheer magic, he is one of the best, if not the best, strikers in the world and he's a key player, really important for us at the moment.

"Gerrard is the best midfielder in the world, there is no doubt about that.

This is probably the best season of his career.

"I feel proud and really lucky to play alongside him, and he gives us the inspiration to do anything." Tomorrow night, Liverpool will meet Chelsea in the Champions League for the ninth time, and many people believe familiarity is breeding contempt, not just for the players but for the fans too.

Reina though, views the tie differently. He sees these games as the pinnacle of the sport, and he wants Liverpool to enjoy the quarter-final for the great occasion he believes it to be.

"You can't be bored with these games - it is one of the biggest games you can play, and most of all we have to enjoy it as players," he said.

"Even though we have played each other many times and it will be extremely close and tight, it will be a fantastic atmosphere and a great occasion.

"But we feel we can win, and we think we have the important momentum in our season."

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