IBRAHIMOVIC COMING TO ANFIELD
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez acknowledges that the Champions League last-16 tie against Inter Milan will be ‘very, very difficult’ but at the same time believes the Italian champions will be 'worried for sure.'
The Anfield club are aiming for a third Champions League final appearance in the space of four years and the Spaniard insists his side will relish taking on a team of the calibre of the reigning Italian champions and current Serie A leaders.
The Reds had overcome European giants Barcelona, who were the reigning champions, last season and Benitez suggested the Merseysiders were prepared to face another major side in the knock-out this time after they could only finish second in their group campaign.
The Spaniard said on the club’s official website: "Everyone was expecting a difficult draw and Inter Milan are top of the table in Italy, so it will be very, very difficult."
He added: "They will be worried for sure. They know we are a good team and I remember talking about Barcelona being a tough draw last year. In two months time you don't know what could happen so we will see if we can go into the match playing a little bit better."
Benitez believes his team can beat anyone in Europe and, given their recent experience in the competition, which saw them come from 3-0 down against Milan in the 2005 final, feels that Inter have reason to be nervous ahead of the two-leg clash. He also analysed the task in front of him as he had faced Roberto Mancini's side when he was in charge at Valencia.
"I know them from playing against them with Valencia. They have good players and experience in Europe so it will be a very, very difficult job, but we were expecting that," he said.
"If you want to progress in the competition you have to beat the top sides and Inter is one of them. Hopefully we will meet another one in the next round."
Inter Milan chief executive Ernesto Paolillo insists his side will make life as difficult as possible for Benitez's team.
"We feel Liverpool are the strongest team, what better team to have as an opponent?" he said.
"I think Liverpool will make it difficult for us and I hope it will be difficult for them as well."
Inter's key players include Hernan Crespo, Luis Figo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Vieira.
The first leg will take place at Anfield on Tuesday 19 February with the return leg at the San Siro on 11 March.
Draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League made by UEFA at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland :
Celtic (Scotland) v Barcelona (Spain)
Olympique Lyon (France) v Manchester United (England)
Schalke 04 (Germany) v Porto (Portugal)
Liverpool (England) v Inter Milan (Italy)
AS Roma (Italy) v Real Madrid (Spain)
Arsenal (England) v AC Milan (Italy)
Olympiakos Piraeus (Greece) v Chelsea (England)
Fenerbahce (Turkey) v Sevilla (Spain)
Editor's Notes
Yes, current Champions League joint top-scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is finally making his way to Anfield but for the wrong reasons. Along with a star-studded line up of Gunner's former general, Patrick Vieira and once Red's wanted list Luis Figo, Inter Milan are set to sample the hostile European nights at Anfield.
It is believed that Liverpool initially had hoped for a draw against a Spanish club, be it Real Madrid, Barcelona or Sevilla due to Rafa's familiarity with the Spanish players. Unfortunately, they is not a single Spanish player with Inter. On the other hand, Inter's team is littered with Argentinians, seven altogether (the likes of captain Javier Zanetti, Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel to name but few) and Rafa is well informed on Argentinians. Familiarity breeds confidence, they say. That's where this draw might just sway into Liverpool's favour. Not that they are not any good though but tactically I reckon Rafa would be spot on with his plan.
Liverpool will be hosting the Serie A leaders in the first-leg and it is important that they get into a comfortable lead to take to San Siro. A 2-0 win would not be too much to ask for but a 1-0 could just suffice. Come February there would hopefully be some QUALITY new faces to beef up the squad. Its time to stand up and be counted for.
The Anfield club are aiming for a third Champions League final appearance in the space of four years and the Spaniard insists his side will relish taking on a team of the calibre of the reigning Italian champions and current Serie A leaders.The Reds had overcome European giants Barcelona, who were the reigning champions, last season and Benitez suggested the Merseysiders were prepared to face another major side in the knock-out this time after they could only finish second in their group campaign.
The Spaniard said on the club’s official website: "Everyone was expecting a difficult draw and Inter Milan are top of the table in Italy, so it will be very, very difficult."
He added: "They will be worried for sure. They know we are a good team and I remember talking about Barcelona being a tough draw last year. In two months time you don't know what could happen so we will see if we can go into the match playing a little bit better."Benitez believes his team can beat anyone in Europe and, given their recent experience in the competition, which saw them come from 3-0 down against Milan in the 2005 final, feels that Inter have reason to be nervous ahead of the two-leg clash. He also analysed the task in front of him as he had faced Roberto Mancini's side when he was in charge at Valencia.
"I know them from playing against them with Valencia. They have good players and experience in Europe so it will be a very, very difficult job, but we were expecting that," he said.
"If you want to progress in the competition you have to beat the top sides and Inter is one of them. Hopefully we will meet another one in the next round."
Inter Milan chief executive Ernesto Paolillo insists his side will make life as difficult as possible for Benitez's team."We feel Liverpool are the strongest team, what better team to have as an opponent?" he said.
"I think Liverpool will make it difficult for us and I hope it will be difficult for them as well."
Inter's key players include Hernan Crespo, Luis Figo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Vieira.
The first leg will take place at Anfield on Tuesday 19 February with the return leg at the San Siro on 11 March.
Draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League made by UEFA at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland :
Celtic (Scotland) v Barcelona (Spain)
Olympique Lyon (France) v Manchester United (England)
Schalke 04 (Germany) v Porto (Portugal)
Liverpool (England) v Inter Milan (Italy)
AS Roma (Italy) v Real Madrid (Spain)
Arsenal (England) v AC Milan (Italy)
Olympiakos Piraeus (Greece) v Chelsea (England)
Fenerbahce (Turkey) v Sevilla (Spain)
Editor's Notes
Yes, current Champions League joint top-scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is finally making his way to Anfield but for the wrong reasons. Along with a star-studded line up of Gunner's former general, Patrick Vieira and once Red's wanted list Luis Figo, Inter Milan are set to sample the hostile European nights at Anfield.It is believed that Liverpool initially had hoped for a draw against a Spanish club, be it Real Madrid, Barcelona or Sevilla due to Rafa's familiarity with the Spanish players. Unfortunately, they is not a single Spanish player with Inter. On the other hand, Inter's team is littered with Argentinians, seven altogether (the likes of captain Javier Zanetti, Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel to name but few) and Rafa is well informed on Argentinians. Familiarity breeds confidence, they say. That's where this draw might just sway into Liverpool's favour. Not that they are not any good though but tactically I reckon Rafa would be spot on with his plan.
Liverpool will be hosting the Serie A leaders in the first-leg and it is important that they get into a comfortable lead to take to San Siro. A 2-0 win would not be too much to ask for but a 1-0 could just suffice. Come February there would hopefully be some QUALITY new faces to beef up the squad. Its time to stand up and be counted for.
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