Thursday, November 26, 2009

Reina looks to Europa League

Pepe Reina is already targeting the Europa League after Liverpool's disappointing exit from the Champions League on Tuesday left the club with the chance for consolation in Europe's second tier club competition.

After five successive seasons of reaching the last 16, Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage despite their 1-0 win over Debrecen, but Reina insisted the team must refocus on the competition they won under its previous name - the UEFA Cup - in 2001.

"Of course we are disappointed because the Champions League is a big competition that we have done well in. Now we are out, though. It's tough but it is not always possible to get out of the group stage," Reina said.

"The Europa League is another competition for us and we want to win it. It also has strong teams and it will be nice to play in it. It's already become a target. There are also so many good teams involved, but we have to look forward and keep trying to win.''

Liverpool must wait for the December 18 draw for the Europa League's last 32, when they will be parachuted into the competition along with seven other Champions League clubs who finished third in their groups. Liverpool can expect to be seeded, which means they are likely to be drawn against the sides who have finished runners-up in the group stages.

Liverpool will play their first match in the Europa League on February 18, and the sides they might have to face include Ajax, Anderlecht, Valencia, Hamburg, Sporting Lisbon, Everton, Roma, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Villarreal, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven and Werder Bremen.

The prospect of a Merseyside derby with Everton in European competition is a tantalising one, however unlikely, but fans will get a taster when the clubs meet in Premier League action on Sunday.

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