Benitez looks to Barca showdownLiverpool tactician Rafael Benitez thinks upcoming Champions League opponents Barcelona are trying to rush back stars Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o for the showdown between the two sides next week.
He told the official Liverpool website: "Yes, I think they have been trying to push these players back quickly for this game,"
He added: "Everyone is very excited about this game. They have been talking about it almost every day for the last two months,"
"Their team is really good and when the draw was made people were saying Barcelona are the best team in the world.
"After two months we are a lot better and they have had some problems. They need Eto'o fit, and Messi, because they haven't been scoring a lot of goals.
"Yes they are really strong, they are not playing at the same level but if they have Eto'o, Messi and Ronaldinho then I think they have very good players."
He concluded: "They have some foreign players and I know Messi. I also know Eto'o as he was in the academy at Real Madrid when I was there, so I have good relations with them.
"It could be good for us to be underdogs. I think that it is important for us as we will not have big pressure there.
"It will be hard there, but it will be good for us to score. Always for us to play the second leg at Anfield is important and we need to score in Barcelona if it's possible.
"Liverpool have never lost at the Nou Camp and they have played three times. I would like to keep this record."
He added: "Everyone is very excited about this game. They have been talking about it almost every day for the last two months,"
"Their team is really good and when the draw was made people were saying Barcelona are the best team in the world.
 |
