30.10.2002 - Houllier aims to win Spanish respect
Gerard Houllier has this morning said that Liverpool will not be out for revenge against Valencia tonight, but that they would be out to earn the respect of the Spanish, following a number of comments from Valencia players which have been reported over the past few days.
The Valencia midfielder Vicente announced yesterday that his side would be favourites for a win, while striker John Carew was reported as saying "Owen is one of the best strikers in the game but you can forget him on Wednesday. The star will be me. I promise I will score."
Houllier was not getting involved in the war of words with the Spaniards though, instead insisting that his Liverpool team would be trying to give a good account of themselves in tonight's clash with the La Liga Champions, following the 2-0 defeat back in September.
"There is no feeling of bitterness. We know we didn't perform and that is an added motivation. We don't want the Spanish to think we are a Mickey Mouse team as they have implied."
Meanwhile, Dietmar Hamann has backed Michael Owen to continue his excellent form of late, and find the net again in tonight's match. Hamann said, "The three goals he scored in Moscow last week prove that he's back to his very best. He was playing well earlier in the season. The goals were just not going in, but he was playing superbly.
"But now those shots are going in, he's scoring goal after goal and we all hope and believe that will continue against Valencia."
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