RED HOT ... Mascherano aims to prove point at
City
Sunday, February 21
2010
Channel 27:
"Live"
And in a double put-down to the game's big spenders,
the Liverpool tough guy insisted he would never head for Eastlands
- however much cash they threw at him.
Mascherano reckons that while City are streets ahead of
the Kop kings when it comes to spending power, they will never have
the passion and pride there is at Anfield.
The Argentina skipper, 25, insisted: "City have bought
some very good players and they have a very good team, but I will
say one thing - you can buy players, but you cannot buy
history.
"I certainly don't want to play for City. You can buy
stars, you can spend a lot of money to be in the top four, more
than us I know, but you can't buy what we have at Anfield.
"Here we play with the history of the club behind us.
We don't have their money but we are proud to play for Liverpool. I
know that they have the money and they are building a good side but
I am still so proud to play for Liverpool."
The Reds go to Eastlands tomorrow knowing defeat would
leave City four points to the good with a game in hand, in the
battle for fourth place and that crucial, final Champions League
slot.
Missing out on a seat at Europe's top table would be a
nightmare for everyone at Anfield, as City aim to establish
themselves as regulars among the game's big guns.
Yet Mascherano reckons Liverpool's knowledge of
handling the burden of expectation can give his side a crucial
edge. He said: "It is normal for Liverpool to play under pressure
all the time, but maybe not for City.
"And although they have spent a lot of money to reach
the top four, and have some good players, so do we. "I think City
respect Liverpool because of our history. We will fight until the
end."
The Reds will have to do battle at Eastlands still
missing the crocked Fernando Torres - although City are likely to
be without a star of their own in Carlos Tevez.
The Argentine striker, a close pal of Mascherano, has
flown back home after complications in the recent premature birth
of his daughter.
Mascherano, who spent six months alongside Tevez at
West Ham, has put professional rivalries to one side in several
calls to his pal this week, to offer his support.
He insisted: "We know it will be good for us if Carlito
cannot play because we know how good he is. "I have spoken to him
this week but not about football, but because I was worried as the
baby was born early.
"I still don't know whether he will stay in Argentina
or come back and play. The main thing for me, the only thing, is
that he is happy and the baby is well. If he plays, he plays, but
the family is the main thing."
While Mascherano is thinking about Tevez's welfare, Kop
boss Rafa Benitez has his sights on City opposite number Roberto
Mancini for different reasons.
The Liverpool boss has spent months fending off
speculation about his future, after a nightmare first half of the
campaign. But Benitez turned the heat on Mancini by claiming their
fourth-place rivals should be under the spotlight, given all the
cash they have splashed in the past 12 months.
The Kop gaffer insisted: "We are in the position where
it depends on us. If we succeed, they will have problems, so we
have to do our job.
"So we know how important it is to win. If we manage
it, then it'll be more difficult for them and they will be the ones
under more pressure, that's for sure.
"I know everybody is expecting us to be in the top four
- but I have the belief and confidence that we can be there.
"It's true, our experience of having been there already
could be important. It depends on the players and if they can
manage things well.
"But over the last four or five years we've done well
in various competitions so this can hopefully help us. We have
managed the pressure well.
"Ourselves and City, as well as Tottenham and Aston
Villa, are in a position where we have to keep going until the
end.
"Perhaps one game can be a big difference, so it's
important to manage the pressure and maybe our experience can
help.
"Perhaps City fans are expecting the team to do better
now and they will have a little bit of pressure - and maybe it will
be more difficult for them.
"But the most important thing for us is not to
concentrate on City, but on us. We need to be in a good position
and have the chance to invest in the future."
