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‘Success is on its way’ – Pepe Reina hails manager Kenny Dalglish & insists Liverpool will fight for top-four finish
The Reds keeper says the Scot has galvanised the Anfield giants since his return a year ago and believes they can secure Champions League football and win trophies this season
6 Feb 2012 07:53:00
EXCLUSIVE
By Francisco Delgado
Pepe Reina has revealed the return of Kenny Dalglish has given the Liverpool players the belief that they can once again bring trophies back to Anfield.
The Reds have impressed since Dalglish succeeded Roy Hodgson in the managerial hotseat last January and, despite some frustrating results in the league this term, they remain in with a chance of a top four finish as well as reaching the latter stages of the League and FA Cups.
Reina believes this success is the result of the faith the Liverpool players have in their manager, and says he and his teammates are in no doubt they will soon get the reward for their much improved displays.
"Success is on its way and we are very happy,” Reina told Goal.com. “We have to recognise that Dalglish is very important for us.
"He lives the games with the same or even greater intensity than us. The players are very committed to the coach.
"Our aim in the Premier League is to fight until the end for the fourth spot. This club deserves to be in the Champions League and that has been our objective since the beginning of the season.
"We have been playing well in the last few games, but we need more consistency and to win our away games, which are looking very important this year.”
The minds of many Liverpool fans are already gravitating towards the club’s first appearance at Wembley for 16 years at the end of February as they face Cardiff in the League Cup final, but Reina is adamant the squad are fully focused on the challenges they face before then.
"From now on every game is a final and we have to maintain our rhythm of victories if we want to be in Europe next season,” he added.
"The Carling Cup is not on our minds. We are going to play in the final at Wembley, but the moment for that will arrive. Now we are focused on the Premier League.
"I have very good sensations this year. We are already in a final but we have to keep going in the Premier League and fight to finish as high as possible."
By Francisco Delgado
Pepe Reina has revealed the return of Kenny Dalglish has given the Liverpool players the belief that they can once again bring trophies back to Anfield.
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The Reds have impressed since Dalglish succeeded Roy Hodgson in the managerial hotseat last January and, despite some frustrating results in the league this term, they remain in with a chance of a top four finish as well as reaching the latter stages of the League and FA Cups.
Reina believes this success is the result of the faith the Liverpool players have in their manager, and says he and his teammates are in no doubt they will soon get the reward for their much improved displays.
"Success is on its way and we are very happy,” Reina told Goal.com. “We have to recognise that Dalglish is very important for us.
"He lives the games with the same or even greater intensity than us. The players are very committed to the coach.
"Our aim in the Premier League is to fight until the end for the fourth spot. This club deserves to be in the Champions League and that has been our objective since the beginning of the season.
"We have been playing well in the last few games, but we need more consistency and to win our away games, which are looking very important this year.”
The minds of many Liverpool fans are already gravitating towards the club’s first appearance at Wembley for 16 years at the end of February as they face Cardiff in the League Cup final, but Reina is adamant the squad are fully focused on the challenges they face before then.
"From now on every game is a final and we have to maintain our rhythm of victories if we want to be in Europe next season,” he added.
"The Carling Cup is not on our minds. We are going to play in the final at Wembley, but the moment for that will arrive. Now we are focused on the Premier League.
"I have very good sensations this year. We are already in a final but we have to keep going in the Premier League and fight to finish as high as possible."
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 4-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
20:14 BST
The general consensus, then, is that Danny Welbeck should be starting up front against France with Ashley Young supporting him. How about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? Did he do enough to earn a starting role at Euro 2012?
20:06 BST
So, that game gave a few players a chance to impress for England. Who did/didn't? Will Welbeck start against France? Or Carroll? Or Defoe?!
19:59 BST
Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, they are trailing the Netherlands 4-0 at half-time. Looks like that one's all sewn up then.
19:54 BST
We're still getting plenty of Hazard chat on Twitter. A few are now saying that he's not worth the hype, others saying he was brilliant(!?) and others (which I agree with), saying he created much of his own hype. What do you think? Get involved!
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
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