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Rafa will make ‘disrespectful’ Barcelona pay

by Anfield Online
Last updated: Friday, 15th December 2006 [22:09]

The draw for the Champions League today opened up the clash we all expected. The 2006 European Champions Barcelona will take on the 2005 European Champions Liverpool over two legs.

Barcelona had made noises before the draw that they would relish the opportunity to face Liverpool. Now, with the names inked in to UEFA’s fixture list, Rafael Benitez has ensured that Liverpool will be going all out to make Barcelona pay for their over-confidence.

Firstly, Barcelona’s President Joan Laporta said:

“I am happy with the draw, Liverpool are a team that I had a preference for in order to face at this stage.

“Liverpool are powerful opponents who play very physical football and have players that we know very well, such as Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso.

“Let’s not forget, we are the team to beat this season.”

Rafa Benitez however is keen to take on Barcelona, firing an uncharacteristic opening salvo, against his old enemy from his Real Madrid days. Insisting to Liverpool fans that while at Valencia, Benitez had many happy visits to the Nou Camp.

“All I have heard is how they hoped to draw us — they seem to think they are better.’

“I have received a lot of phone calls from people in Spain and they were all saying how much Barcelona wanted to draw us. They will not lack confidence, but this is the Champions League, and everyone knows what a big difference it makes to our players.

“As Valencia coach, I won many times at the Nou Camp. In fact, over the past few years, Valencia have become their bogey team, so we will not have anything to fear.

“You only have to look at last season to see what can happen. Everyone thought it would be easy for us against Benfica. Now they are saying this is mission impossible against Barcelona. We have a lot of respect for them, but we have shown what we’re capable of in this competition.”

What do you think? Can we beat Barcelona?

21 Responses

1 | adebennett

December 15th, 2006 at [23:37]

god help us…..weve done it before and we’ll do it again. YNWA

2 | ryan mcalo

December 16th, 2006 at [00:03]

come on the reds we can do it

3 | Mik

December 16th, 2006 at [00:18]

If the players believe in themselves, then yes, we are able to beat them. The fact that the new signings are starting to deliver will also make things easier for us. Up the reds!

4 | KopMadnezz

December 16th, 2006 at [08:49]

Only the almighty can help us now!!!

5 | magnum

December 16th, 2006 at [10:49]

How many games are to be played between now and then?

Injuries and form then, not now, will tell whose side has an advantage.

We’ll never walk alone!

Blessings,
magnum

6 | STfy

December 16th, 2006 at [13:23]

We can do it! hold them to a draw at Nou Camp and crush them at anfield!!!

7 | jc3869

December 16th, 2006 at [17:03]

We have been bigger underdogs than Rocky Balboa, so just bring it Barca.

8 | m owen

December 16th, 2006 at [17:56]

wen we won the uefa cup we knocked them out

9 | vishal

December 16th, 2006 at [19:08]

we’ll beat anybody in this competition to go straight for our 6th cup..
so what barcelona…
WE ARE LIVERPOOL….they should fear us..
thats why they ironically wanted us..
in reality they wanted to get another team…

10 | Alex

December 16th, 2006 at [20:02]

We must beat them to progress, if we lose we lose against another great team.

They are very good in attack and in midfield, we are very good in midfield and defence and can set up speedier counter attacks.

Barca are weak at the back.

Rafa has plotted Barca’s and Real’s downfall when both these clubs did not have a money problem and Rafa had with Valencia’s budget.

I hope Rafa keeps cools and opts to pack the midfield and consider only counter attacks. I hope he does not opt like we did this year against Chelsea and Arsenal and in CL against Milan. Rafa opted to attack from the outset these teams (to close the score early).

We are better when we lay back and wait.

We will have the advantage of the home crowd for the last say and hopefully keep a clean sheet away if not bang in one or two!

I hope Messi does not turn up.

11 | Liam/LJA

December 16th, 2006 at [21:12]

As said previously, we have beaten them before, and we can do it again, remember, Barcelona are not the strongest team defensively, so we need to do what we did against Juventus 2 years ago, and hit them early with a couple of goals (hopefully at the nou camp & anfield) then lock up our defense.

As long as we control the midfield, their strikers will have no service, and we will control the game.

Liam/LJA

12 | 087-922-0065

December 16th, 2006 at [21:13]

Arsenal in the two domestic cups and Barca in the champions league, its going to be a tough few months ahead !

13 | fan in grenada

December 16th, 2006 at [21:25]

just seen the draw, and I have a good feeling about this, they are over confident and over reliant on ronaldhino. I expect gonzalez to deliver… come on you reds

14 | 5 star

December 17th, 2006 at [08:08]

Only God can save Barca now..

15 | Issy

December 17th, 2006 at [18:25]

Nothing to fear about Barca. If Cheski can contain them, we will do better. Dont forget, Arsenal nearly beat them. As for the over confidence, they soon eat an humble pie. In RAFA we have good tactician. Come on REDS, YNWA!!!

16 | kopite4life

December 17th, 2006 at [20:49]

After an inconsistent start we seem to be gettin it together. A few big signings in January and we’ll be ready for em, Ronaldinho is about to experience Fortress Anfield.

17 | GEORGE ATHANASIOU

December 17th, 2006 at [21:13]

It is amazing how history is in favour of LFC. We are the only European Club that has beaten Barcelona at their home. History also shows that when LFC plays against ‘Giants’ it is LFC that qualifies for the next round. The so-called ‘Giants’ awake LFC’s secret powers! I am quite confident that we’ll do it again this time!

18 | Andy S

December 22nd, 2006 at [13:16]

We need to go at them like we did against Juve, over 2 legs we are still one of the most consistant teams in europe.

19 | Andy567

January 3rd, 2007 at [09:57]

We should control the midfield with StevieG and Xabi Alonso. If Bellamy is fit and doesn’t get any injuries along the way then bye bye barca!!Kewell should be fit and if we get a few good signings then Barca will be knocked out of the cl.

We NEED a right back and wing badly and if none come then Finnan is going to have trouble. THe only thing we need is Sissoko to go on a lone spell to spain so that Stevie gets his fav role back with xabi alonso. WE ARE THE BEST,WERE THE BEST AND WILL BE THE BEST. SO FEAR US BARCA AND BEG FOR MERCY OTHERWISE WE WILL THRASH YOU VERY BADLY!!!!!!!!!!

20 | adetola micheal

January 4th, 2007 at [12:08]

it takes the true spirit of a liverpudian to stick to a club u believe in at this time.i look 4ward to this clash,now we have it.i know we can beat them and go all d way to the final.proud to be a red,safe.

21 | Fellows

January 6th, 2007 at [16:57]