Gerrard Calls For Heroes In Athens

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/liverpool/article1826788.ece

Oliver Kay in Athens

Steven Gerrard knows how it feels to lift the European Cup, but he is driven by a burning desire to do so again this evening and to silence all those – within the AC Milan camp and throughout English football – who feel that Liverpool’s triumph in Istanbul two years ago was a fluke that will never be repeated.

As in 2005, Milan stand between Liverpool and the biggest prize in club football, with Gerrard relishing the prospect of another midfield battle with the tenacious Gennaro Gattuso, whom he unwisely dismissed as a “kitten” in his autobiography, and Kaká, the superb Brazilian playmaker.

Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, faces another tactical conundrum in order to beat Milan again, but his options improved last night when Boudewijn Zenden was passed fit after taking a full part in a training session at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. The former Holland winger has had acupuncture on an injured ankle. Harry Kewell should start on the bench.

There were indications that Jermaine Pennant may earn a role on the right-hand side, leaving Gerrard to operate in a more advanced role behind Dirk Kuyt, who would operate as a lone striker.

Benítez believes it will be a very different match to the 2005 Champions League final, when Liverpool fought back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 and beat Milan in a penalty shoot-out, but Gerrard has urged his teammates to draw on the memories of that occasion as they aim to win the trophy for the sixth time.

“The players don’t want to come back from Athens upset and with regrets that we have not brought the cup home,” Gerrard said. “We want to make history, be heroes and come home winners. To win one final was absolutely magnificent, but do it twice could be really special.

“People in football always say once you’ve tasted that kind of success, you want to experience it again. That’s spot on. The other thing is that ever since we won in 2005 we’ve heard people saying it was a fluke and couldn’t happen again. That doesn’t bother us, but if we win it two years out of three, it will shut them up.

“I think we’ve laid that to rest already – no one can say what we did in 2005 was a one-off now – but to win it again would put us up there with the great European teams. It would really take us to a different level.”

Gerrard was calm on his battle with Gattuso – and with Carlo Ancelotti, the Milan coach, who vehemently denies the Liverpool captain’s claim that his players were celebrating at half-time in Istanbul. “My main focus is getting myself right,” Gerrard said. “If I can do that, we will see if Gattuso can stop me. If my form is right and I feel good, I feel I can overcome anything Milan put in my way.

“We take no notice of the mind games. I’m told Milan think Manchester United are better than Liverpool. They’re entitled to their opinion, but we’re not interested in what is coming out of their camp. What is important is that we prepare right and the Liverpool team who have done so well in Europe this season is the one that turns up on the night.”