Champions League - Cannavaro: We must play smart

Eurosport - Mon, 23 Feb 21:16:00 2009

Fabio Cannavaro has called on Real Madrid to "play smart" in their Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 La Liga Real Madrid Fabio Cannavaro PUBLICATION NOT FRA ITA - 0

The Spanish giants meet the Merseysiders in the first leg at the Bernabeu on the back of a 6-1 thrashing of Real Betis - their ninth successive La Liga win under new coach Juande Ramos.

The deficit to leaders Barcelona has been trimmed to seven points, breathing new life into the title race and boosting morale further ahead of the visit of Rafael Benitez's men.

Italy defender Cannavaro told the club's website: "We're in good form.

"The team is doing well and it has the fans' support. We're up against a historic team that is used to winning the Champions League. We must play smart, score and not concede any goals."

Cannavaro is likely to come up against Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, a player he admires.

"He's a player I like very much. He's gained a lot of confidence playing outside of Spain," he added.

"He also won the European Championship last summer with Spain. He's one of Europe's best strikers."

Cannavaro also had words of praise for Ramos, who has revitalised a Madrid squad underachieving under previous boss Bernd Schuster.

The former Juventus centre-half believes Ramos, sacked by Tottenham in October, has done wonders for team spirit.

"The coach is doing a good job, we've gone back to being a team," he said.

"We made many mistakes during the first half of the season because we thought we could win just by wearing this shirt.

"We need to play as a team. That's what Juande has done."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. What is with this invalid comments. The @#$% editor­ must be an anti Liverpool fan

    From Naren7, on Tue 24 Feb 1:06PM

  2. Liverpool always plays best game in CL than domestic­ league.
    Real Mad..gonna whacked by liverpool.

    From mmacho99, on Tue 24 Feb 1:06PM

  3. Real fans out there, don't be carried away with the­ 9 straight wins. Your opponents were all rubbish. Not­ standard at all. Spanish LLiverpool will be your­ toughest challenge under Ramos. He has already lost to­ Benitez twice in the Premiership and soon it will be a­ third. Torres is going to destroy Madrid. Be AFRAID­ Real.

    From Naren7, on Tue 24 Feb 1:03PM

  4. Real are a @#$% team with a @#$% coach

    From Naren7, on Tue 24 Feb 12:59PM

  5. Real we are win.Nothing like the way liverpool, play­ in champion league.Real we are pjaying good­ football,all the player are in top form.To crown it­ all,we have a good coach.

    From samuelaghagbon, on Tue 24 Feb 12:46PM

  6. it will be tenth straight win and tenth CL title

    From jabir, on Tue 24 Feb 12:07PM

  7. "Liverpool will raise their game in the­ ucl..."

    Funny that... Liverpools main priority­ was to win the league. Form does count into the game,­ which team is going to the game with more confidence?­ Both teams are 7points behind in the league but Real­ Madrid believe they can win it where in contrast­ Liverpool have the mentality that the league is over­ and Man Utd are winners. Well, I hope Madrid win by­ more than 2 goals and do not concede at all. HALA­ MADRID!!!! PODEMOS OEEE!!!

    From Jez, on Tue 24 Feb 8:22AM

  8. liverpool will win they raise their game in the ucl and­ 9 games in a row in la liga is nothing.

    From margaret.kiely, on Tue 24 Feb 6:13AM

  9. 9 games won out of 9. I don't care if that is the­ champions league or la ligua. That's a record to­ count on. How's liverpool doing nowdays. Better­ keep my mouth shut about it. There is nothing good to­ say anyway. The records speak for themselves. Y'all­ in Liverpool should pray for a miracle because the­ storm is coming and the rain is about to wet your­ goalie

    From mehdi y, on Tue 24 Feb 6:08AM

  10. yea.... you are right... you and all players must be­ smart in this game!!!
    real Madrid is the one and­ one....

    From back9c, on Tue 24 Feb 5:34AM

  11. cannavaro shud never speak on a teams behalf...he­ dumped juve an thinks he is accepted in real..he is a­ loser an a moron...an torres shud kick him down an­ trample over him!! threee cheer to ramos tho!

    From gilakaka77, on Tue 24 Feb 4:50AM

  12. as you think you doing well, but to play liverpool in­ champion league it is differn story .come on reds ynwa

    From B, on Mon 23 Feb 10:18PM
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