Source: Liverpool_Echo
Javier Mascherano: Europa League is Liverpool FC's big chance to end trophy drought
REWIND to the days that followed Liverpool's defeat at Old Trafford last month and reflect on the feelings of deflation which proved all consuming.[LNB]Nowhere was that more apparent than at Melwood; distraught at losing to their oldest and biggest foe, frustrated they had not played to the standards they expect and fed up the Premier League campaign was unravelling, Liverpool's players were predictably quiet.[LNB]But amid all that doom and gloom was one pint-sized figure of defiance; Javier Mascherano had no intentions of wallowing in self-pity and, in a discussion with someone at the club's training base, he emphatically stated his intentions.[LNB]'Forget it,' he implored. 'Forget Sunday. Forget the early part of the season. Forget everything that has gone. We must look to the future. And remember this - on May 12, in Hamburg, we will have a trophy in our hands.'[LNB] Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Liverpool warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Jamie Carragher warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts......The journey takes it's toll on Mascherano at the press confrence. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Liverpool warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts......The journey takes it's toll on Mascherano at the press confrence. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts......Rafa Benitez speaks to the media at the press confrence. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts......The journey takes it's toll on Mascherano at the press confrence. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Liverpool warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Liverpool warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Steven Gerrard warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts......Rafa Benitez speaks to the media at the press confrence. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts......Mascherano jokes with the media at the press confrence. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Steven Gerrard warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground. Buy this photoPicture by Jason Roberts...... Liverpool warms up at training at Athletico Madrids ground.His enthusiasm was admirable. Given that a quarter-final with Benfica was on the agenda and Liverpool's form could best have been described as patchy, it took a leap of faith to see Mascherano's promise being fulfilled.[LNB]Yet here Liverpool stand in the semi-final of another European competition; tonight they square up to Atletico Madrid, knowing that two bold performances in the next seven days will secure the trip to Hamburg that Mascherano so desperately craves.[LNB]'I wouldn't do a 24-hour journey to be here if I didn't want to win,' said Mascherano, referring to the time it took Liverpool to reach the Spanish capital. 'For me and my team-mates this game is very important.
