PORTUGAL: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conferences by Benfica's coach Ronald Koeman and Liverpool's Rafa Benitez before their first leg Champion's League match in Lisbon
Record ID:
872634
PORTUGAL: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conferences by Benfica's coach Ronald Koeman and Liverpool's Rafa Benitez before their first leg Champion's League match in Lisbon
- Title: PORTUGAL: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conferences by Benfica's coach Ronald Koeman and Liverpool's Rafa Benitez before their first leg Champion's League match in Lisbon
- Date: 21st February 2006
- Summary: LISBON (FEBRUARY 20, 2006) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) WIDE: BENFICA TRAINING AT NATIONAL STADIUM (NEAR LISBON) INSTEAD OF THEIR OWN GROUND TO PROTECT THE PITCH
- Embargoed: 8th March 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Portugal
- City:
- Country: Portugal
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA9M301LNQTNU9AZ4K5R250X5F0
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Benfica's coach Ronald Koeman said on Monday (February 20) he believes his Champion's League tie with Liverpool will not be decided in the first leg at Lisbon's Stadium of Light on Tuesday.
Benfica is going through a rough period in the Portuguese League but normally plays well in European matches.
Benfica's hopes of mounting a successful domestic title defence appear to be fading. A 2-0 loss at Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday left them fourth in the Portuguese championship, eight points behind leaders Porto.
Koeman said "It is the first of two games against Liverpool, and the teams are different, the way, how they play are different. For that I say Liverpool is more a team together in matches. Maybe in front, in the midfield, they have more innovative qualities than Liverpool but the team Liverpool at this moment is much stronger and that's difficult against them."
Nuno Gomes said it should be a great match to win and he was keen to win against Liverpool, especially at home with Benfica's fans watching.
Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez said "It will be a very, very difficult game for them, here with their supporters it may be an issue for them to be motivated but for us it can be also a very difficult game. And I said before, we have confidence but we have also a lot of respect for Benfica."
Benfica knocked Manchester United out in their final group game by winning 2-1 at home and Benitez admires the way manager Ronald Koeman arranges his team to play on European nights.
Liverpool go into the tie in great form with a league win over Arsenal followed up by Saturday's 1-0 win over Manchester United at Anfield, their first FA Cup win over their arch rivals for 85 years.
Benfica's hopes of mounting a successful domestic title defence appear to be fading. A 2-0 loss at Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday left them fourth in the Portuguese championship, eight points behind leaders Porto. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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