Realistic Koeman admits PSV's European hopes are all over
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands:PSV Eindhoven coach Ronald Koeman said Tuesday's 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals effectively signals the end of their European campaign for this season.
Needing a miracle to overturn the tie in the second leg at Anfield next week, Koeman said: "If I told my squad to believe they can still advance, then I don't belong on this planet.
"This result hurts and gives us no opportunity to do anything next week in Liverpool."
Liverpool won with goals from Steven Gerrard (27th), John-Arne Riise (49th) and Peter Crouch (63rd) and PSV, who knocked Arsenal out in the last round, never looked like repeating that success against another English side.
"Till the first goal we did well, we were organised and gave nothing away, but then we failed to close the space for Steve Finnan to cross for Gerrard to score.
"We have had a great season reaching the Champions League quarterfinals but the absence of some quality players on our side made the difference too big - and we were not good enough."
Liverpool drew 0-0 at Eindhoven and beat them 2-0 at Anfield in the group stage earlier in the season and, barring an unlikely upset next week, are now set for a semifinal against either Chelsea or Valencia.
But they will be without injured Fabio Aurelio who appeared to snap his Achilles tendon as well as Dirk Kuyt, who was booked in the dying moments, picking up a yellow card that will keep him out of the almost-academic second leg.
"Did I collect that booking on purpose?" he asked afterwards.
"Well, sometimes you have to be smart but first we have to win next week and then we will know if it was smart."
Liverpoool boss Rafael Benitez, whose side lost to a Benfica team coached by Koeman last season, said he was delighted his side won but was not taking anything for granted.
"We know we are close now but in football you have to stay focused and concentrated for every match."
He added: "We knew they had some problems and we had to do the job. We had to profit from their mistakes and that is just what we did." he added.
"I am satisfied with the result but also disappointed about the Aurelio injury," he added.
Agencies
(China Daily 04/05/2007 page24)
