- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez said the Champions League was easier than the Premier League after his side won 1-0 at Inter Milan to reach the quarter-finals today.
Inter’s ill-discipline cost them again at the San Siro Liverpool progressed 3-0 on aggregate.
Nicolas Burdisso was sent off just five minutes into the second half of the second round, second leg tie – just as Marco Materazzi saw red in the first half of the first leg – to scupper the Italian champions’ hopes of reaching the next round.
It means that for the first time four English clubs have reached the last eight of Europe’s premier competition – with Barcelona, AS Roma, Shalke 04 and Fenerbahce making up the numbers.
It was also the second time in a week that an English club had won on the San Siro pitch, following Arsenal’s 2-0 success over AC Milan seven days earlier.
Spanish international Fernando Torres scored the only goal of the game on 64 minutes with a clinical turn and finish from just inside the box.
“I don’t think anyone will want to play us in the last eight,” said Liverpool skipper Stephen Gerrard, who saluted Torres.
“We’re lucky to have Fernando – he only needs one chance,” Gerrard said.
Liverpool won the Champions League under Benitez in 2005 and were runners-up last year, but they have struggled to overcome Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea domestically.
Those three teams are also in the last eight of the European Cup.
“For us the Champions League is a bit easier because we can be concentrated in two games. In the Premier League the top three English clubs are tough and it is hard every game,” Benitez said.
“The difference is the Premier League is for nine months.”
Inter coach Roberto Mancini announced after the game that he would be leaving at the end of the season.
Benitez laughed off suggestions Inter may try to recruit him and said he was happy with his Liverpool team, who are fourth in the Premier League.
“We have a better squad than before. For me the most important thing is that the team is winning in the Champions League every year,” he said, adding he would wait for Friday’s draw before thinking about the quarter-finals.
“I don’t have a preference, I would be really pleased to play the final, if it is against an English (team) then better.”
Liverpool made a nervous start to the match and Inter’s Argentine forward Julio Cruz forced goalkeeper Pepe Reina into a brilliant one-handed save low to his right after just nine minutes.
On the half hour mark Inter should have gone in front after a lovely pass from Zlatan Ibrahimovic released Cruz into the box to the left of goal but the Argentine fired wide.
Minutes later a Maicon mistake let in Dirk Kuyt but he smashed his cross straight at Rivas Lopez.
Inter’s chances of progressing took a drastic hit in the 50th minute when Argentine defender Burdisso stupidly got himself sent-off for a second booking.
On the hour mark Julio Cesar had to be alert to tip over a vicious free-kick from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
Just four minutes later came Torres’s goal.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.