Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is bullish ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid.
Los Colchoneros hold a 1-0 lead after the first leg, but Gerrard believes the Reds can easily overcome that deficit in front of their home fans. After Sunday's 4-0 Premier League demolition of relegated Burnley, the club captain — who scored twice — believes the whole squad is up for the challenge of progressing to a European final.
"We need to be positive from the start of the game and get the fans behind us and believe that we can achieve the victory," Gerrard told the club's official website.
"We've done it before so we are going to give it everything we have got on Thursday night.
"The players are positive about Thursday night, I can guarantee that. We are up for it and we need to give every bit of sweat and blood out on that pitch.
"Let's hope we can win it with two goals but if they score we have to get a third. We have to adapt during the game and do whatever it takes to win.
"There have been many occasions where we have had our backs to the wall and people have doubted us, but as players we never doubt ourselves."
Already without Fernando Torres for the game, manager Rafael Benitez might also be unable to select Dirk Kuyt, who picked up a calf injury in the game at Turf Moor. But he is delighted to see his talisman in goalscoring form.
"We'll have to see how Kuyt is," Benitez said after the game.
"But it's good news that Gerrard is scoring goals - and hopefully he can do the same on Thursday.”
Los Colchoneros hold a 1-0 lead after the first leg, but Gerrard believes the Reds can easily overcome that deficit in front of their home fans. After Sunday's 4-0 Premier League demolition of relegated Burnley, the club captain — who scored twice — believes the whole squad is up for the challenge of progressing to a European final.
"We need to be positive from the start of the game and get the fans behind us and believe that we can achieve the victory," Gerrard told the club's official website.
"We've done it before so we are going to give it everything we have got on Thursday night.
"The players are positive about Thursday night, I can guarantee that. We are up for it and we need to give every bit of sweat and blood out on that pitch.
"Let's hope we can win it with two goals but if they score we have to get a third. We have to adapt during the game and do whatever it takes to win.
"There have been many occasions where we have had our backs to the wall and people have doubted us, but as players we never doubt ourselves."
Already without Fernando Torres for the game, manager Rafael Benitez might also be unable to select Dirk Kuyt, who picked up a calf injury in the game at Turf Moor. But he is delighted to see his talisman in goalscoring form.
"We'll have to see how Kuyt is," Benitez said after the game.
"But it's good news that Gerrard is scoring goals - and hopefully he can do the same on Thursday.”
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