IT’S GAME ON WITH RAMS’ CZECH MATEJ
IN many ways this was the Merseyside derby with the least at stake – and quite possibly the least interest in the game itself.
THIERRY HENRY A flying winger at Monaco, Arsene Wenger spotted the striker in him when he brought Henry to Arsenal. Some 228 goals later, Wenger was well and truly vindicated. GARETH BALE ANTONIO VALENCIA The Ecuadorian made the opposite journey to Gareth Bale – from attacking winger to full-back. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson spotted his potential as a defender and he has been there ever since. JAVIER MASCHERANO RIO FERDINAND Came through the West Ham youth ranks as a striker or attacking midfielder, and made his debut as a substitute for Hammers scoringlegend Tony Cottee before soon being converted to a classy central-defender. LIVERPOOL revealed they have now been offered the chance to train in Manchester on the day of their Champions League showdown with City. But boss Jurgen Klopp (below) has explained that they will stick to their plans by remaining in Liverpool for their warmup tomorrow – and then travel to the Etihad. The Reds had approached both City and Manchester United for the use of facilities for a session on the afternoon of the quarter-final second leg. And when they were denied, instead made plans to train at their own Melwood complex. “It is not true that we can’t train in Manchester any more,” he said. “We had to ask early, and didn’t get it but City gave us the opportunity to use Bury’s training ground which is at Carrington, City’s old training ground. And we had trained there already when we played United in the Europa League.
“We didn’t know exactly why we couldn’t go there when we first asked so that is why I said we couldn’t use it.
“But now they have said we could go.
“By then though we had organised everything for staying at home and doing it at Melwood so that is why we haven’t changed our plans.
“But we could have trained in Manchester... at Bury.”
Liverpool have vowed to go to the Etihad tomorrow with a plan to attack City, and grab the away goal that will mean their opponents must score five times to reach the semi-final.
Reds skipper Jordan Henderson, who is suspended for the game, said: “You can’t sit deep for 90 minutes against Man City.
“We have to go there and try to attack, play our football and try to score some goals.
“We have a few days to prepare for it and we’ll be ready come Tuesday night. “It will be very difficult for me to watch. It’s frustrating not being involved as I want to be out there.
“But the lads just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing as they’ve been brilliant recently. I believe in them.” DERBY’S promotion push is more like a game of poker than chess – but in Matej Vydra they have a significant player in black and white.
Whoever blinks first between the Rams, Middlesbrough and Millwall looks likely to miss out on the play-offs.
And the form and goals of talisman Vydra (above) will be crucial for Gary Rowett’s men.
The Czech striker (above) took his tally for the season to 20 as Derby eased past Bolton to build on Easter Monday’s 1-0 victory at Preston following a wretched run.
Vydra scored a tap-in between Alex Pearce’s early header and Tom Lawrence’s low drive.
He said: “I’m so happy. Last season wasn’t the best for me, but this was an important one for me to show whether I am a good player or not.
“I’m now playing in my best position and the gaffer has given me so much confidence.
“Before Preston, we didn’t win for eight games and now we have two clean sheets and two wins, so everyone is happy.
“We always believed we could change this.
“It was very important to get these two wins because it was very difficult with everyone saying Derby always lose their way.”
Bolton boss Phil Parkinson admits his side desperately need wins now to avoid the drop.
He said: “We have got the players to get ourselves out of this situation, I firmly believe that.
“We just have to rediscover a bit of belief. I’m not bothered how we get the wins, we just have to get our heads together and play with a bit more belief.”