Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has admitted the club
would fear facing Liverpool in the Champions League after their
exploits this week.
Liverpool’s season had been threatening to end in disappointment
after some disappointing results, but last week’s 4-0 demolition of
Real Madrid was followed by a 4-1 victory over Manchester United
and there is now a renewed sense of optimism at Anfield.
Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness admitted recently that
he felt Liverpool were the team to avoid in the quarter-finals, and
Cruyff has now said that no one will want to be drawn against Rafa
Benitez’s side.
“For sure, many of those who feared playing against Manchester
[United] don’t want to face Liverpool from now on because of the
way their demolished Madrid and then hammered United,” he wrote in
his blog for El Periodico.
“They were two convincing and prestigious victories, but each
was different.
“Against Madrid, Liverpool went on the pitch to attack and press
them. Against Manchester, they went shoulder to shoulder and the
game finally turned their way thanks to one incident: Vidic’s
dismissal and the direct free-kick.
“Against Manchester United, Benitez felt comfortable with a more
defensive team that was always together so that they could
intercept the ball and play fast on the break.”
However, while Cruyff is particularly keen to avoid Liverpool,
he admits there could be serious problems whoever they face.
“Playing against Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea won’t
be easy, especially since Hiddink arrived,” he said.
“Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Porto are put in the ‘if
we play them, we go through for sure’ box, but we should be careful
of this idea in the dressing room, because no second-rate clubs are
remaining.”
