Rafa Benitez has rubbished
Jose Mourinho's claims that Liverpool will try to get Chelsea
players suspended for the UEFA Champions League semi-final second
leg.
The Chelsea boss had suggested The Reds would try and wind players
like Didier Drogba up so they picked up a caution which would rule
them out of the return leg on Merseyside.
Liverpool accused Eidur Gudjohnsen of diving to get Xabi Alonso
booked in the 2005 semi-final which ruled the midfielder out of the
Anfield leg.
"Maybe that is what Jose did to Alonso," said the Liverpool
boss.
"But if that was a message to the referee (Markus Merk) then I can
say that if it is a yellow card, that is what it should be. If it
is red, then also that is what it should be.
"I have confidence in Markus Merk, he is a very good referee and I
am happy with the referees at this level."
Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips admitted with Drogba, Joe Cole,
Petr Cech and Lassana Diarra all on two bookings they would have to
keep their cool in the heat of battle.
"We have to be very careful because we don't want any players
missing the second leg," admitted the Chelsea winger.
"It is not going to be easy but we are professionals and have to
learn to adapt. We look out for each other all the time
anyway.
"It will be very difficult both mentally and physically because all
the games we have played have been very important ones.
"We have had to be mentally strong through them all. This game will
be hard for us in a lot of ways."
