Lille Can Create History Against Liverpool - Manager Rudi Garcia

Lille manager Rudi Garcia has called on his players to evoke the spirit of St Etienne and make their own piece of history against Liverpool.

The French club meet the Reds in the Europa League on Thursday, and Lille's boss is calling on his charges to emulate the St Etienne side that faced Liverpool back in 1977, and won 1-0.

Bu Garcia says his team won't underestimate their opponents.

"Liverpool are a big team and big teams are always there," said Garcia, reports the Press Association Sport.

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

"It will be difficult 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."

The game will also see Garcia come up against one of his mentors from when he was a young coach.

He said: "On this level 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.

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

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