by Ciggy » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:25 pm
Betis manager calls for character Nov 23 2005
By Paul Walker, Daily Post
REAL BETIS'S veteran manager Lorenzo Serra Ferrer claims his squad is down to the bare bones for the Champions League clash with Liverpool and he called on his players to show their character at Anfield if they want to survive in the tournament.
Defeat for the Seville side - who beat Chelsea last month - will end their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 and send current group G leaders Liverpool into the next stage.
Liverpool, who need only a point to progress, are facing La Liga's second-bottom club knowing their opponents have been stripped of their two top strikers through injury.
Brazilian Ricardo Oliveira is out for six months with a cruciate knee injury, midfielder Fernando Varela is suspended, while Dani Martin suffered an Achilles problem on Saturday in the explosive derby defeat at Seville which saw 14 yellow and two red cards.
Ferrer, 52, may have to partner Edu and Xisco Munoz up front, supported by winger Joaquin, the 24 year-old who insists he is a transfer window target for Liverpool despite manager Rafael Benitez's constant denials.
"I can send out my team with my thoughts and messages but it is up to them and their own character to impose themselves and our style onto the game," said Ferrer..
"We must continue the spirit we have shown in this competition and realise what a win at Anfield will give us.
"We have done well so far in the group, third place is almost certain, and we have to continue with that same mentality.
"Hopefully we can show the same energy and determination we have already produced in the competition for this match.
"It is in our own hands, if we win the last two games then we will be almost certain of qualifying. Will Liverpool win at Chelsea in their last match?
"We must continue to play the way we did against Chelsea. These games, as with Liverpool, are huge for us and very difficult in our first season in the competition, but we have shown we can win matches at this level."
Ferrer will wait anxiously for a fitness test on Edu's ankle injury, and said: "I accept it is more difficult because of the injuries we have. We will have to make big changes up front. First we have lost (Ricardo) Oliveira and now Dani has a knee injury after our defeat at Seville.
"We have no option but to look inside our own squad for alternative, we are down to the bare bones and hope that Edu is fit."
There is no-one anywhere in the world at any stage who is any bigger or any better than this football club.
Kenny Dalglish 1/2/2011
REST IN PEACE PHIL, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.