CL ~ Robben: I'll end Reds' dreams
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Liverpool are running scared of Real Madrid, says Rafael van der Vaart
Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart believes Liverpool are fearful of their impending visit to the Bernabeu for the first leg of the Champions League knock-out stage.
Bring it on: Rafael van der Vaart insists he will do anything it takes to win the Champions League.Wednesday, 25 February 2009Channel 23: 3:45 am "Live" (Thur morning)UEFA Champions LeagueWith Madrid effectively out of the running to win the La Liga title, Juande Ramos' side have turned all their attentions to ensuring they win at least one piece of silverware this season.
And despite Liverpool's strong track record in Europe, Van der Vaart believes Rafael Benitez side's nerves will get the better of them next Wednesday.
"We're Real Madrid, which is why I think Liverpool are frightened of us," he said. "We have great players - it's going to be a great tie. The team is working hard to be in perfect shape.
"We're anxious to do well in Europe and if we end up as champions I will be capable of anything. I will do anything to win the Champions League."
Aware of how eager Madrid will be to win their 10th European Cup, Benitez will be putting his past experiences of La Liga to good use.
"I've the experience of the duel we had with Barcelona. They were the big favourites but we knocked them out," he told the Mirror. "We didn't have luck when the draw came out as we have different goals for the season now. For Madrid, it's all about the Champions League. That is all they have to win.
"We're still alive in the title race but what matters is the condition of my players when the games come. Torres is still getting back to his best form, while Steven Gerrard, who is to our team what Raul is to Real, the emblem, is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
"It's fair to compare Steven to Raul. Both are charismatic players, with enormous hearts, whose personality makes a mark on the rest of the team."
Raul became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer at the weekend when he netted twice for the La Liga champions in their 4-0 victory away to Sporting Gijon.
He moved one ahead of Alfredo di Stefano's tally of 307 when Sergio Ramos crossed and he scored with a first time shot on the half-volley. He also grabbed his 309th goal, and Real's fourth of the day when Inaki Lafuente fumbled Gonzalo Higuain's shot leaving Raul with a simple tap in near the end.
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We see how first.. Ltr Torres scored two late goals how?
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Think Liverpool will lose.
Badly.
But that's just me.
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Originally posted by Scania N113CRB l0v3r:
We see how first.. Ltr Torres scored two late goals how?
In terms of finishing, van nistelrooy is by far better.......... -
Originally posted by Chris88110:
In terms of finishing, van nistelrooy is by far better..........
RAUL? -
which player from a team will say, "oh, my team is damn afraid of so and so team."
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Ltr Torres say the "WARN" lolx
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I expect Pool to put 10men behind ball, boot the ball to Torres at every opportunity and go for a draw, and try to finish the job back @ Anfield.
that's the advantage of playing first leg away, and 2nd leg at home..
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then why cant Real get the job done at home before putting 10men behind the ball away??
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higuain is damn good lars..
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liverpool to win?
hard to say.
nth is FOR SURE since the ball is ROUND. -
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BUILD UP
Robben on a revenge mission against Liverpool
Robben: Double defeat to Liverpool
Arjen Robben has some old scores to settle when Real Madrid meet Liverpool in the first knockout round of the Champions League, which returns next week.
The former Chelsea winger will come up against a side he has twice lost to in the semi-finals of the competition, with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved his penalty in a shootout two years ago.
The Dutch international is eager to get revenge for the heartache suffered in 2005 and 2007, starting iith the first leg in the Bernabeu on February 25 before Real make the trip to Anfield 13 days later.
The game at Anfield in 2005 was infamous for the "ghost goal" scored by Spanish midfielder Luis Garcia - then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho still refuses to concede the ball crossed the line - and two years later the Premier League clubs could only be separated by penalty kicks. After the tie ended 1-1 on aggregate, Reina saved from Robben and Geremi as Liverpool took the shootout 4-1 on Merseyside.
"I want to beat Liverpool because I've lost against them twice in the semi-finals," Robben told Radio Marca. "Also (Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe) Reina saved a penalty of mine and I would like to take another and score this time."
Robben is in the form of his career at the moment after finally settling in Spain and is expected to be a crucial figure in the Round of 16 tie, although he missed the 4-0 hammering of Sporting Gijon on Sunday with a slight muscle strain.
"Liverpool are a very strong team, they have a coach who is very good tactically, and they know how they have to play in particular games," he added. "The most important thing will be to score goals at the Bernabeu.
"We have to win by more than two goals because the return at Anfield will be tough."
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Originally posted by Saltiga:
then why cant Real get the job done at home before putting 10men behind the ball away??
After Milan, how many do you or can you put against Liverpool to "get the job done"??
Pool has consistently use this format for past few years, and what is RM's history for past 5 years??
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Hmmm... somehow I can already imagine Robben is going to dive in this match... Especially at the the Bernabeu... He go down only and the fans will start screaming their heads off and the referee may be sway over... Pool have to be careful of this guy... He is out for revenge...
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Originally posted by zocoss:
Hmmm... somehow I can already imagine Robben is going to dive in this match... Especially at the the Bernabeu... He go down only and the fans will start screaming their heads off and the referee may be sway over... Pool have to be careful of this guy... He is out for revenge...
is he still "diving"??
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It will be a close game no matter what both teams say. Rafa knows all abt Real... Anyway Real is very predictable... Likewise Pool... It cud go either way just like Inter & Man Utd...
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Liverpool will win it...
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Yeah i wan to see how Robben revenge?
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
is he still "diving"??
You can bet your bottom dollar on it...I think in Spain, they pride themselves on being good at it... Serious. Messi does it quite often for Barce, going down very easily and the fans over there won't boo them if they do so unlike in England. They are more closer to S Americian style football I guess...
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Originally posted by zocoss:
You can bet your bottom dollar on it...I think in Spain, they pride themselves on being good at it... Serious. Messi does it quite often for Barce, going down very easily and the fans over there won't boo them if they do so unlike in England. They are more closer to S Americian style football I guess...
haha... now I know why Ronaldo wants to go RM...
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REAL MADRID V LIVERPOOL
Ramos: I can't believe Rafa sold Robbie
Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos, who was manager of Tottenham Hotspur when Robbie Keane was sold to Liverpool, has told Rafa Benitez that he made a big mistake in letting the striker leave Anfield.
Speaking ahead of next week's Champions League last-16 clash with the Reds, Ramos said: "You can't tell me Robbie will not score goals at a top club."
"He's definitely a match winner for any club and if he were still at Liverpool, I would be telling my defenders to watch for him."
Liverpool forked out £20million for Keane last summer and Ramos could not disguise his surprise at Liverpool's decision to sell him back to his old club for £12m just six months later.
"It was a lot of money to lose on Robbie over such a short space of time - especially in this market," Ramos said. "Let's put it this way. I wouldn't want to lose that amount of money on one player."
"Maybe Liverpool should have kept Robbie until at least the summer to give him more time and try and get the right price for him when there was more time to do so!"
Since Ramos replaced Bernd Schuster at Madrid in December he has dragged Los Blancos from fifth place in La Liga into second place, 10 points behind leaders Barcelona, and was quick to remind Liverpool of the pedigree of his new club ahead of their Champions League clash.
"[Liverpool] are a massive European Cup club but the fact is we are bigger - bigger than anybody in this competition," said Ramos.
"Everybody knows about Liverpool's successes but at the same time everybody knows we are the most famous and successful club in Europe.
"For the Real Madrid fans it has been too long since they won the European Cup and with Barcelona so far ahead in La Liga before I arrived maybe this is our best chance of a major trophy this season."
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Real is having a run of good forms...quite scary...
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I REALL REALLY hope the title race goes down to the wire and Robbie Keane denies Liverpool their first title in 19 years
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Flying Dutchman “I have a lot of desire to beat Liverpool"
REAL MADRID winger Arjen Robben is on a mission to crush Liverpool’s Champions League dreams.
The Dutchman still harbours bitter memories of the double defeat he suffered at the hands of the Reds in the 2004-05 and '06-07 semi-final while he was still at Chelsea.
But he will get the chance to avenge those losses when Real take on Rafa Benitez's side in the last 16 at the Bernabeu tomorrow night.
He said: “I have a lot of desire to beat Liverpool. "They are a very strong side but when I was Chelsea, I did not like playing against them. “I prefer to play Manchester United or Arsenal, because Liverpool are not a team who know how to play good football.
"They are very physical, they work and run a lot and they are tactically very well prepared.”