Lille eye Reds scalp

Garcia wants to make history

Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lille eye Reds scalp

Garcia: Reds clash

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Lille coach Rudi Garcia insists Liverpool cannot be under-estimated despite their recent defeat by Wigan.

The Reds travel to France to face Lille on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

Garcia is confident his side can get something from the game and has also called on his side to repeat St Etienne's famous win over Liverpool in 1977.

Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat to the French side in the first leg of their European Cup clash, before the Merseyside giants claimed a famous win at Anfield in the return.

"Liverpool are a big team and big teams are always there," said Garcia.

Perform

"We cannot under-estimate them but we'll see if they perform again like they did against Wigan.

"It will be difficult (for us) after this more-than-average game they had against Wigan.

"But there are two sides to the story: maybe their confidence is decreasing but they now know the importance of the Europa League and winning it will be one of their objectives.

"Liverpool are probably the most legendary team in England, but then again maybe we have to write our own story the way St Etienne did when they played them in the quarter-finals back in the 1970s.

"We need to write our own history. We will see that maybe when we play at Anfield but it is magical to play against such a team."

Benitez

Garcia knows Rafa Benitez as he spent a week with Valencia, learning alongside the Reds chief.

"It will be pretty special for me because when I trained as a coach I went to Valencia for a week and he was coaching at that time," added Garcia.

"I worked with him. I will say he is a really open person and coach and a very passionate man.

"Benitez has a great game philosophy and is very interesting as well and he has been successful as a coach."

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