Source: Team_Talk
We can be heroes, roars Reds skipper
Steven Gerrard says Liverpool's players can become "heroes" if they overcome Atletico Madrid in next week's Europa League last-four return leg.[LNB] Despite their 1-0 defeat in the Vicente Calderon on Thursday night the level of expectation that Liverpool can reach their third European final in six years has actually grown among the squad.[LNB]Gerrard struggled to contain a grin when he spoke about what Thursday's game means for the players and the club.[LNB]Without being arrogant, and even being a goal down, the squad know they are within touching distance of booking a place in Hamburg on May 12.[LNB]The England midfielder knows more than most about producing heroic performances after numerous inspirational displays, most notably against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final comeback and the FA Cup victory over West Ham a year later.[LNB]"It is still half-time. We are still confident we can progress and we know we can turn any result around with our fans behind us, especially a 1-0," said Gerrard, who famously rescued Liverpool's victorious Champions League campaign five years ago with a man-of-the-match display in the final group game against Olympiacos.[LNB]"Although it's not the perfect result for us - it's a bit of a dangerous result - everyone in the dressing room is confident.[LNB]"I'm really looking forward to next week and the sooner Thursday comes around the better.[LNB]"If you don't want to play in that game there is something wrong.[LNB]"These are the stages you want to play on, these are the nights when heroes are made."[LNB]Liverpool, of course, have been here many times before and on several occasions this season have taken teams back to Anfield and turned things around.[LNB]Against Lille they trailed 1-0 and won 3-1 on aggregate, and they demolished an accomplished Benfica side 4-1 in the quarter-final second leg having been 2-1 down from the game in Portugal.[LNB]In fact, Liverpool's record when playing European semi-final second legs at home is formidable, with seven victories and one draw.[LNB]It is that experience which Gerrard expects will provide the platform for yet another famous night at Anfield, even without the goal threat of injured striker Fernando Torres.[LNB]"The frustrating thing was that we were nowhere near our best and had no cutting edge in the final third in Madrid," said the 29-year-old.[LNB]"We haven't played well at all on the road in the league or in Europe but we've got the experience, the know-how, of turning these results around.[LNB]"Next week will be a lot different on our pitch with our fans behind us I'm sure we'll play at a higher tempo and create more chances.[LNB]"I think a couple of things will stand us in good stead: our experience of being here before, because we've turned these kind of deficits around before, and the fact this stage is perfect for the supporters.[LNB]"They lift Anfield and if we get out of the blocks quicker and score the first goal the place will erupt and it will be 'game on'.[LNB]"Atletico have got fantastic players who can hurt you so we know we need to perform perfectly if we want to get to Hamburg.[LNB]"We can't afford any mistakes because if they get an away goal it means we've got to score three.[LNB]"It is very important as a team we defend perfectly and we believe we have the players in the team who can score important goals."[LNB]Having made an arduous 24-hour, 1,200-mile trip to Madrid by road, rail and air because of the flight restrictions imposed by the cloud of volcanic ash, Liverpool were at least afforded the luxury of flying home on Thursday night.[LNB]That gives them more time to prepare for Sunday's Premier League match at struggling Burnley as they still have not given up on their distant hopes of finishing fourth and securing Champions League football next season.[LNB]"It doesn't get in the way because we've got a squad that is capable," said Gerrard of the Turf Moor encounter.[LNB]"I'm sure the manager will make a few changes to freshen things up and we'll try to get a win against Burnley and then prepare for a massive game, the biggest of the season, next Thursday."
