Friday 16 March 2012

Enrique - It's not over yet



Liverpool's Jose Enrique has admitted it is unlikely the Reds will qualify for the UEFA Champions League, but his side have not given up hope.
The Merseyside outfit currently occupy seventh position in the Premier League table, 10 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with 10 games remaining this season.
The Spaniard has conceded time is running out but feels the Reds can use the Gunners' recent revival as a source of inspiration.

Difficult

Enrique said: "We have to be realistic about the Champions League and we are 10 points behind so it is going to be really hard. But we are still trying because the league hasn't finished yet.
"All season we have put together regular wins. If you look at Arsenal at the start of the season they did not win their first three games and everyone said they were bad. Now they are one point behind third-placed Tottenham. We are like that.
"I know Champions League qualification is difficult but there are still many points to play for and if we play like we did against Everton you never know."
A 3-0 win over their local rivals, inspired by a Steven Gerrard hat-trick, ended a run of three consecutive league defeats for the Reds, and Enrique is looking for his team to maintain that level of performance.
Amazing
He continued: "We got a good result but in many games we deserved more this season. But when you don't win you don't care how you win - what is more important is the three points.
"But I don't think we have played badly this season; against a lot of teams we have played well and we have been unlucky with the goals. If we can play like we did against Everton, we can beat anyone."
Enrique's side host Stoke City on Sunday with Liverpool aiming to reach Wembley for a second time this season.
"I think everyone enjoyed going to Wembley a lot," he added. "To win a trophy in my first season here was amazing and we have a big chance to do that again. There are two games to play to get to the final and we have a good chance.
"It is difficult to play against Stoke, they are a real English team - they kick the ball all the time to their striker and we have careful at throw-ins and corners."
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