Benitez talks CL tacticsLiverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended his Champions League team selection after deciding to leave out Captain Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Peter Crouch and Sami Hyypia.
He said: "We must accept nobody can play at 100% for every match,"
"If you're not 100% fit and ready then you'll be rested like that."
On the introduction of Gerrard in the 72nd minute Benitez added: "He came on at the right time, we had needed to cover and work to stop their penetrating passes and that is why Momo Sissoko started.
"He has fantastic stamina, better than Alonso or Gerrard can reach.
"Now we have more options and we can use players in this way.
"We were intent on a clean sheet after that happened on Saturday, and we defended well and created enough chances to have won the match."
PSV manager Ronald Koeman admitted he was shocked with the Liverpool starting line up saying: "When I saw their team sheet I was shocked. No Gerrard, no Alonso, no Hyypia, no Crouch.
"In the end though I was happy with a draw, especially because Liverpool used eight men behind the ball for much of the game.
"Gerrard could have won it for them at the end, but I was pleased with our performance.
"Drawing this one means that we will probably now have to win an away game at either Galatasaray or Bordeaux, those two sides drew their match 0-0 as well so the group is very tight."
 |
