By Roy Collins
Last Updated: 1:09am BST 06/04/2008
Last Updated: 1:09am BST 06/04/2008
Cesc Fabregas was so frustrated with Blackburn Rovers' negative tactics in the goalless FA Cup fifth-round tie with Arsenal at the Emirates last season that he confronted Rovers manager Mark Hughes on the touchline at the end, sarcastically inquiring if he had really once played for Barcelona, an act for which he swiftly apologised. But after Liverpool's ultra-cautious approach in Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg, Fabregas seemed in the mood to ask Anfield boss Rafa Benitez if he really once coached Real Madrid's youth team.
Fabregas, whose own approach to football could not be more flamboyant if he played while flourishing a cape, was disappointed that Liverpool did not show more ambition at the Emirates. And having achieved their target of stealing an away goal, Fabregas expects them to be even more defensive in Tuesday's second leg at Anfield.
He says: "They defend very well and at 1-1, I think all they will want to do is defend and try to catch us on the break. We have to stick to our policy of playing football, attacking and trying to create opportunities. Just because the other team refuses to play doesn't mean we have to do the same thing. We want to stick to our football and that's what we will do." In the ultimate compliment to Fabregas's constructive abilities and his eye for a killer pass, Benitez detailed Argentinian bulldog Javier Mascherano to mark him out of the game, a task he stuck to so enthusiastically that when they clashed in the full glare of the floodlights, their bodies only formed one shadow.
"I could feel his breath on my neck all the first half," Fabregas said. "For me, I think he is an amazing player. Defensively, he's very good and with the ball, he knows what he is doing. He reminds me a little bit of Mathieu [Flamini] as well."
The Football Association's disciplinary committee's decision to give Mascherano an additional two-game ban following his reaction to being sent off against Manchester United at Old Trafford a fortnight ago gave Fabregas a day off from him yesterday, even though Liverpool have appealed, but he can expect more heavy breathing down his neck on Tuesday.
Arsenal's splendid performance against AC Milan in the San Siro after a goalless draw at the Emirates in the first leg gives them optimism for their Anfield visit. So does the statistic that shows Liverpool have only once prevented Arsenal scoring in their past 19 meetings and the Gunners, of course, scored nine goals in four days at Anfield last season.
Those games, a 3-1 FA Cup win followed by a 6-3 Carling Cup triumph, were among the highlights of the season for Arsenal's Manuel Almunia, then second-choice goalkeeper, whose only Premier League match last season was in the 3-0 home win over Liverpool. So, after yesterday, he has a record of three wins, three draws and no defeats against them.
No wonder he sounds optimistic about returning to Merseyside as the Gunners' established first choice, saying: "If we score, then all the windows are open and in the league and the cup, we have always scored at Anfield. So we're not totally happy but a bit happy. We have to show the same spirit as in Milan but at the moment, Liverpool are stronger than Milan.
"We played fantastically in those two wins at Anfield last season. That's the way to beat Liverpool, on the counter attack. It is difficult to control the game up there because they like to go forward looking for a goal so playing on the counter is not a problem for us. Maybe we will watch a video of last season's wins before the match."
Chelsea's players have shown signs of being intimidated during their two Champions League semi-finals at Anfield in the past three seasons. But Almunia, perhaps because he is used to the noise, confusion and considerably more danger during the running of the bulls in his home town of Pamplona, says he loves playing in front of the Kop. He says: "For me, the atmosphere there is the best in the world. I like so much to play at Anfield. It's unbelievable how the team and the crowd act in the same way together."
Almunia, a B-team player at Osasuna when Benitez was first-team coach, also faced Fernando Torres in La Liga and can attest to the remarkable improvement he has made since moving to England. He says: "I played against him a couple of times in Spain but here he's playing much better. In Spain he had to make and score goals but here he's got a better team behind him that gives goals to him. I think it's easier for him to play here than in Spain."
When Arsenal reached the Champions League final in 2006, Almunia was summoned from the bench in Paris against Barcelona after Jens Lehmann was sent off.
Now, after four years fighting for the No 1 jersey - even though he actually wears 24 - he knows that Tuesday at Anfield could be the defining moment of his Arsenal career.
It will be a crucial evening, too, for Fabregas, who will need to win his personal battle with Mascherano if his team are to defy the odds.
Fabregas, whose own approach to football could not be more flamboyant if he played while flourishing a cape, was disappointed that Liverpool did not show more ambition at the Emirates. And having achieved their target of stealing an away goal, Fabregas expects them to be even more defensive in Tuesday's second leg at Anfield.
He says: "They defend very well and at 1-1, I think all they will want to do is defend and try to catch us on the break. We have to stick to our policy of playing football, attacking and trying to create opportunities. Just because the other team refuses to play doesn't mean we have to do the same thing. We want to stick to our football and that's what we will do." In the ultimate compliment to Fabregas's constructive abilities and his eye for a killer pass, Benitez detailed Argentinian bulldog Javier Mascherano to mark him out of the game, a task he stuck to so enthusiastically that when they clashed in the full glare of the floodlights, their bodies only formed one shadow.
"I could feel his breath on my neck all the first half," Fabregas said. "For me, I think he is an amazing player. Defensively, he's very good and with the ball, he knows what he is doing. He reminds me a little bit of Mathieu [Flamini] as well."
The Football Association's disciplinary committee's decision to give Mascherano an additional two-game ban following his reaction to being sent off against Manchester United at Old Trafford a fortnight ago gave Fabregas a day off from him yesterday, even though Liverpool have appealed, but he can expect more heavy breathing down his neck on Tuesday.
Arsenal's splendid performance against AC Milan in the San Siro after a goalless draw at the Emirates in the first leg gives them optimism for their Anfield visit. So does the statistic that shows Liverpool have only once prevented Arsenal scoring in their past 19 meetings and the Gunners, of course, scored nine goals in four days at Anfield last season.
Those games, a 3-1 FA Cup win followed by a 6-3 Carling Cup triumph, were among the highlights of the season for Arsenal's Manuel Almunia, then second-choice goalkeeper, whose only Premier League match last season was in the 3-0 home win over Liverpool. So, after yesterday, he has a record of three wins, three draws and no defeats against them.
No wonder he sounds optimistic about returning to Merseyside as the Gunners' established first choice, saying: "If we score, then all the windows are open and in the league and the cup, we have always scored at Anfield. So we're not totally happy but a bit happy. We have to show the same spirit as in Milan but at the moment, Liverpool are stronger than Milan.
"We played fantastically in those two wins at Anfield last season. That's the way to beat Liverpool, on the counter attack. It is difficult to control the game up there because they like to go forward looking for a goal so playing on the counter is not a problem for us. Maybe we will watch a video of last season's wins before the match."
Chelsea's players have shown signs of being intimidated during their two Champions League semi-finals at Anfield in the past three seasons. But Almunia, perhaps because he is used to the noise, confusion and considerably more danger during the running of the bulls in his home town of Pamplona, says he loves playing in front of the Kop. He says: "For me, the atmosphere there is the best in the world. I like so much to play at Anfield. It's unbelievable how the team and the crowd act in the same way together."
Almunia, a B-team player at Osasuna when Benitez was first-team coach, also faced Fernando Torres in La Liga and can attest to the remarkable improvement he has made since moving to England. He says: "I played against him a couple of times in Spain but here he's playing much better. In Spain he had to make and score goals but here he's got a better team behind him that gives goals to him. I think it's easier for him to play here than in Spain."
When Arsenal reached the Champions League final in 2006, Almunia was summoned from the bench in Paris against Barcelona after Jens Lehmann was sent off.
Now, after four years fighting for the No 1 jersey - even though he actually wears 24 - he knows that Tuesday at Anfield could be the defining moment of his Arsenal career.
It will be a crucial evening, too, for Fabregas, who will need to win his personal battle with Mascherano if his team are to defy the odds.
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utusanLFC:
Fabregas is just the UK newspapers creation. He is no brilliant footballer. He is definitely no Kaka. When the press praised on Kaka, he proved he is the man when he assisted his ageing team in beating LFC in the ECL Final last season. Fabregas? He can't assist his fellow school boys in beating LFC TWICE in the emirates. And yet he dare to criticise LFC tactical game? Fabregas is not what he potrayed to be. He is not a brilliant midfielder. I hope Gerrard doesn't talk about other team like that school boy. Arrogant bas*%^&d....
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