Thursday 5 April 2007

AURELIO OUT FOR SEASON

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had mixed emotions following the 3-0 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven after admitting Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio's season is over.

Aurelio suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the quarter-final first leg in Holland and the Reds manager admits it is so serious he will be out "for a very long time".

The 27-year-old will have a scan today in Liverpool but Benitez already knows the player is facing months on the sidelines.


He said: "Fabio has started to play really well, this is a very bad blow for him and us. There was nobody anywhere near him, he felt as if he had been hit by a stone. The pain was from behind and it struck him like he had been hit, it is a real tragedy for us."

The injury was the only black spot on a great team performance in the Philips Stadium, with goals coming from Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch.

The performance was so comprehensive that PSV coach Ronald Koeman conceded the tie. Liverpool can now start thinking of a semi-final date with either Chelsea or Valencia.

Benitez was predictably more cautious, but even he does not really believe his side can lose this tie despite saying: "We must remember Istanbul, we came back from 3-0 down. We played well, it was an organised, effective performance. But we are all more concerned about Fabio."

Editor's Notes

Just as everyone thought that Fabio Aurelio has finally comes to grips and starting to settle down with the English brand of soccer, he has been forcasted to be out for the rest of the season.

After only recently coming back from another injury himself, his career seem to be spiralling down in front of his eyes. It was said that his studs actually got caught in the turf as he was about to stride and his tendon was jolted.

This could perhaps be the end of his short Liverpool career as he has yet to produce the kind of form that prompted Rafa to take him to Anfield.

Come next season, he could be facing tougher battles ahead to make the left-back spot his own. After the departure of Stephen Warnock, it has been a a battle between him and John Arne Riise but we might just see some new faces vying the left back spot come next season.

One particular name that will be mentioned would be Emiliano Insua, who is highy regarded by Rafa Benitez and is expected to announce his arrival in the first team next season.

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