Former
Liverpool
forward Luis
Garcia is looking forward to walking out at Anfield again - only
this time in the colours of Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish
club arrived on Merseyside on Monday ahead of their Champions
League D clash with Rafael Benitez's side and Luis Garcia was
immediately in familiar territory.
''This will
be a special game for me personally, but it should be for anyone
playing here at this stadium with such a fantastic atmosphere,'' he
said. ''I spent several years here and enjoyed the time - it is a
special occasion for me.
''I even had
a big reception at the airport. I have had messages of goodwill
from fans, letters and emails. It is great to come back and see
these people again. A special part in my heart will always be with
these people at this club and in this city. I still remember a lot
of people from when I was here, fans and players.''
The match
could also see another reunion with Liverpool's
former Atletico hero Fernando Torres poised to make a return from a
hamstring injury.
Benitez said
he will leave it to the player to make the final decision after
training later today but Madrid
boss Javier
Aguirre insists he wants to see the player on the pitch facing his
side.
He said:
''We are aware that he has been injured, but I want him to be 100%
fit and playing against us, I want us to be challenged by the very
best.''
The Mexican
coach, now three years into his spell in Madrid,
is conscious there could be a backlash from the hosts after they
lost their unbeaten record for the season at Tottenham on
Saturday.
He said:
''They could well be angry. We will see, but they did not deserve
to lose at Spurs. If you watched the game, you will understand.
They should have won and had the best chances.''
Aguirre has
20-year-old Argentina
star Sergio
Aguero back in the squad, after the highly-rated striker was only a
half-time substitute in the 1-1 draw between these sides in
Madrid
a fortnight
ago.
Aguero
scored twice at the weekend in the 2-0 win over Mallorca,
and he has been linked with a £30million move to
Manchester
City
in
January.
But Aguirre
said: ''He is very happy here, he is still a young lad and young
player and because of that I know he will be with us for many
years, despite the amounts of money I hear being mentioned for
him.''
