Saturday, March 13, 2010

Why Kuyt Remains Confident


Dirk Kuyt remains confident Liverpool will reach the Europa League last eight despite a 1-0 first leg defeat in Lille on Thursday.

The Reds put in a much-improved display in France following the loss at Wigan before falling to a late goal from Eden Hazard.

Kuyt believes he and his teammates can now get the required result when Lille travel to Anfield next Thursday.

"Obviously 1-0 is not a great score for us but this is what has happened," said the Dutch international.

"We have got to look forward. We can't think how difficult it will be. We know what happened to Real Madrid. We all watched that game and we have to be focused.

"I'm sure it will be a good night at Anfield and I think we've got a good chance to go through. We are disappointed but we are capable of turning it around.

"It's really disappointing that we let them score with only five minutes to go but I am glad that this round is not decided in one game. We have a chance to put it right."

While Kuyt accepts the Wigan display was disappointing, he insists there is still plenty of confidence within the squad after a good start to 2010.

"Before Wigan, we had done well and kept many clean sheets," said the 29-year-old. "The only defeat we had suffered in the league was at Arsenal and it was getting better and better.

"Monday was just an off day. We were all very disappointed, most of all with ourselves. We have got to change that. We put a lot of effort in against Lille and created some chances.

"It wasn't the best game that we have played but I thought we put a lot more effort in.

"We controlled it defensively and until the goal, Lille didn't have many chances.

"We had the best chances and we should have scored with the ones that came our way. But we have got to try and keep pushing harder."

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