Alonso could 直面する final 失望 under ruthless Rafa

Last updated at 16:15 20 May 2007


Xabi Alonso is を締めるing himself for the 鎮圧するing blow of 行方不明の out on a 支持する/優勝者s League starting 位置/汚点/見つけ出す in Athens on Wednesday.

Alonso has 一般に been 見解(をとる)d as one of the central 構成要素s of Rafael Benitez's Red 革命 at Anfield, so much so that Liverpool's coach felt the presence of his fellow Spaniard in central midfield was 価値(がある) shunting 船長/主将 Steven Gerrard to the 右翼.

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Xabi Alonso

Yet, to many of his players' amazement, Alonso was axed for the second 脚 of the 半分-final 勝利,勝つ over Chelsea, a move which 許すd Gerrard to switch inside and partner new-boy Javier Mascherano.

And, while it has been difficult to work out Benitez's 計画(する)s for this week's 対決 with AC Milan because of the 広大な number of changes he has made since the shoot-out success against Chelsea, the wise opinion seems to be 落ちるing on Alonso 存在 consigned to the (法廷の)裁判.

"All the players want to play in the big games and it was the second 脚 against Chelsea was a big game not to be 選ぶd for," he 反映するd.

"It is normal to be disappointed in those 状況/情勢s.

"You never know if you will be 選ぶd but once you are on the (法廷の)裁判, you have to support your team-mates and be ready to come on."

In axing Alonso, the 普通は affable Benitez was 強調ing his ruthless streak.

And if the 25-year-old former Real Sociedad 星/主役にする was surprised by his omission, his team-mates were even more startled.

"That 決定/判定勝ち(する) 証明するd no-one is undroppable," 認める John-Arne Riise.

"With this 経営者/支配人 you never know what he is going to do. Even if you play every game all season you never know if he is going to do something surprising. It certainly keeps everybody on their toes."

Having been su ch an integral member of the Liverpool 味方する which fought their way 支援する from the brink of humiliation against the Serie A 巨大(な)s two years ago, Alonso will 推定する/予想する to play some part in the game.

Liverpool have been わずかに 困らすd by the 声明s 現れるing from the Milan (軍の)野営地,陣営 that they are an inferior 味方する to the Manchester 部隊d team 大打撃を与えるd by the Italians in the 半分-final.

Although the Merseysiders have 大部分は kept their counsel, the belief from Anfield is that they will not afford the likes of Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo the 肉親,親類d of space given them by Sir Alex Ferguson's men in the San Siro.

"Milan played some terrific football against Manchester 部隊d. They played with a very good 速度 and were much better than 部隊d," he said.

"But once you are in a final everything is different and we will play our way.

"Is it important not to give Kaka space to play because he is strong, quick and good with the ball.

"We will work on の近くにing him 負かす/撃墜する and try to be compact in midfield."

Liverpool are happy to 解任する any talk of a psychological 影響(力) still ぐずぐず残る from the amazing night in Istanbul two years ago, when Alonso was の中で the scorers as they 戦う/戦いd 支援する from a three-goal half-time 赤字.

But one 面 from that night 明確に remains a strong 控訴 for Liverpool 裁判官ing by the 決定的な manner in which they (警官の)巡回区域,受持ち区域 Chelsea on 刑罰,罰則s.

"We will love to go to 刑罰,罰則s," smiled Alonso.

"That's Liverpool; we always seem to make it exciting.

"Jerzy Dudek was good for us in Istanbul and Pepe Reina is known in Spain for saving 刑罰,罰則s, so that is good news for us.

"His secret is 研究ing how people take their 刑罰,罰則s and he learns where they will put the ball, so hopefully it 作品 for us on Wednesday."

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