Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned his team that Benfica will be a tough team to beat, after the two sides were drawn together in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
The two teams last met each other in 2006, during the first knockout round of the Champions League, where the Portuguese side triumphed in both legs of a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Four years on, Benitez believes the Portuguese side will still pose a strong challenge.
"We know they are a good team and of course we have played them before in the Champions League," he told the club's website.
"They are a massive club with a lot of support from their fans and it will be a tough game.
"They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment. I know a number of their players well — [Pablo] Aimar, [Javier] Saviola, [Luis] Garcia — so we know they have a lot of quality."
If Liverpool beat Benfica, they will face either Atletico Madrid or Valencia in the semi-finals of the competition and Benitez believes that hosting the second leg at Anfield will increase the Reds' chances of going through to play either Spanish side.
"It's always important that the second leg is at home in front of our fans," he said.
"We know we have to perform away and then play well at home. We have the confidence to do that and are looking forward to the games."
The two teams last met each other in 2006, during the first knockout round of the Champions League, where the Portuguese side triumphed in both legs of a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Four years on, Benitez believes the Portuguese side will still pose a strong challenge.
"We know they are a good team and of course we have played them before in the Champions League," he told the club's website.
"They are a massive club with a lot of support from their fans and it will be a tough game.
"They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment. I know a number of their players well — [Pablo] Aimar, [Javier] Saviola, [Luis] Garcia — so we know they have a lot of quality."
If Liverpool beat Benfica, they will face either Atletico Madrid or Valencia in the semi-finals of the competition and Benitez believes that hosting the second leg at Anfield will increase the Reds' chances of going through to play either Spanish side.
"It's always important that the second leg is at home in front of our fans," he said.
"We know we have to perform away and then play well at home. We have the confidence to do that and are looking forward to the games."
No comments:
Post a Comment