Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has said that he does not believe an early European exit for the club would be a complete disaster.
Reina knows that his side must win their two remaining games and hope already-qualified Lyon can do them a favour against Italian side Fiorentina, but maintains that the Reds' rich European history makes up for this season's woes.
"I do not accept that not going through will be a disaster for the club," he said. "We have been in the Champions League now for several years, one failure is not a disaster.
"Not many teams have reached the semi-finals twice and two finals - including a title victory - in the last few seasons. It can happen again, we get closer to our real form with every game.
Any team would miss the quality of the players who are injured at the moment, but we have others who can play and who can produce the right performances to get us out of this mess."
Liverpool's next game in the tournament is a must-win trip to Debrecen on November 24, and Reina believes his team have to dig deep if they are going to pick themselves up.
"We must show heart, passion and belief," he added. "If anyone can do this, Liverpool can. But now it (qualification) is not in our own hands, it does not only depend on what we do.
"Now it is very, very difficult for us. But we must show strong character and fight right to the end. We know we have enough good players to sort this out."
Reina knows that his side must win their two remaining games and hope already-qualified Lyon can do them a favour against Italian side Fiorentina, but maintains that the Reds' rich European history makes up for this season's woes.
"I do not accept that not going through will be a disaster for the club," he said. "We have been in the Champions League now for several years, one failure is not a disaster.
"Not many teams have reached the semi-finals twice and two finals - including a title victory - in the last few seasons. It can happen again, we get closer to our real form with every game.
Any team would miss the quality of the players who are injured at the moment, but we have others who can play and who can produce the right performances to get us out of this mess."
Liverpool's next game in the tournament is a must-win trip to Debrecen on November 24, and Reina believes his team have to dig deep if they are going to pick themselves up.
"We must show heart, passion and belief," he added. "If anyone can do this, Liverpool can. But now it (qualification) is not in our own hands, it does not only depend on what we do.
"Now it is very, very difficult for us. But we must show strong character and fight right to the end. We know we have enough good players to sort this out."
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