[lfc-news] Carragher focussed on final - PA

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Give the gift of life to a sick child.
Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's 'Thanks & Giving.'
http://us.click.yahoo.com/5iY7fA/6WnJAA/Y3ZIAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

PA Sport, 3 May 2005
CARRAGHER FOCUSSED ON FINAL

Liverpool's man of the match, Jamie Carragher, stressed that the team
could not afford to bask in the glory of beating Chelsea 1-0 to reach
the final of the Champions League as they had to go on and win the trophy.

Luis Garcia's controversial fourth-minute goal - television replays
could not prove whether it had crossed the line before William Gallas
cleared it - proved the decider at Anfield after the first leg had
finished goalless.

Carragher and Sami Hyypia stood firm in the face of sustained Chelsea
pressure but despite ecstatic scenes at the final whistle the England
defender said they could not allow their focus to drift

"This club has been built on those type of nights and they have been
taken away from us in the last few years but we were desperate to get
back to those nights," he told ITV1.

"I hasn't really sunk in yet. There were great scenes at the end but at
the end of the day it is only a semi-final.

"This is not finished, there is still a cup to be won."

Carragher admitted the goal may have been fortunate but he added: "I
think we were due a bit of luck against Chelsea. Whether it was in or
our not, it was our turn."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was full of praise for Carragher, who
has been the Reds' most consistent and committed performer all season.

"What a performance, this guy put in an immense performance,
unbelievable," he said.

"Chelsea put us under pressure but we defended well. We beat the
[Premiership] champions today. It was the first time in five goes [this
season] but it was worth the wait."

Gerrard too was unconcerned about the debate raging over the goal.

"We are in the final, whether it was a goal or not," he said, before
going on to praise the the supporters who made it such a special night.

"It is hard to find words to describe the fans."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes the crowd at Anfield inspired his
players to their fantastic victory.

Benitez told ITV1 the key to the 1-0 win: "To work hard and have our
supporters behind us and believe until the end. When you have your
supporters behind you, you run a little bit more."

The former Valencia boss, who won the UEFA Cup last season, believes his
side could have been awarded a penalty if Luis Garcia had not scored
after Petr Cech had brought down Milan Baros.

Benitez added: "I haven't seen (the goal), maybe it's a red card for the
goalkeeper and a penalty."

But the Spaniard believes his side deserved to win the tie to send them
in the final where they will probably meet AC Milan, who lead PSV
Eindhoven 2-0 going into tomorrow's second leg.

He added: "We had a good game, the same as the first leg.

"We need to enjoy it today, if Milan is the team we will try."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said he hoped Liverpool went on to win the
final in Istanbul later this month but, in typical style, claimed his
team deserved to have gone through on the night.

"The best team lost and we are very sad we did but at the same time we
must understand what football is," he told ITV1.

The Portuguese manager referred to the Chelsea's victory over Liverpool
in the Carling Cup final when the Reds scored in the first minute but
then spent the rest of the match defending and lost in extra-time.

"This game was a copy of the game in Cardiff where one team scored a
goal in the beginning of the game," he added.

"In Cardiff it was a wonderful goal (by John Arne Riise). In this,
no-one knows if it's a goal - not even the linesman.

"Tactics is with Rafa. He is responsible for them and they are happy
they reached the final.

"I don't want to criticise them but they played the way they wanted,
they fought a lot. I have to give them credit for that.

"We are disappointed but at the same time I am very proud of my players

"And from my heart I hope Liverpool win [the Champions League]."

Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/