HESKEY BACKS DOUBLE
Maupay’s buzzing at buoyant Bees Scholes’ goal is to top Treble
BRENTFORD top scorer Neil Maupay says reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup would vindicate his decision to stay at Griffin Park.
Frenchman Maupay, 22, is hot property in the Championship right now after topping 20 goals for the season.
He was linked with £15million moves to Huddersfield, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough in the January transfer window but opted to stay put.
Now the livewire striker (left), who cost just £1.6m from Nice, faces Swansea City dreaming of an FA Cup run that could take him all the way to Wembley.
He said: “I’m really pleased to still be here and very happy with my decision. I’m really blessed with the confidence Brentford gave me.” SWANSEA boss Graham Potter insists he is focused on beating Brentford and not the financial rewards of reaching the quarter-finals.
Potter (right) said: “We just want to get through to the next round. We can’t think about what it means financially, or who you play next round. You have to think about Brentford, match what they do and play well against a good team.”
ALiverpool return to Champions League action against Bayern
Munich on Tuesday determined to make a splash in Europe again.
And full-back Robertson, 24, insists stories that they are struggling to cope with the burden of expectation are nonsense.
“I think we’re ready for it,” he insisted. “In terms of the pressure we let everybody else, the media, the experts, talk about that.
“The only pressure on us is playing for Liverpool – and that’s big enough. If we can deal with that we can deal with anything.
“Last year everybody started talking about winning the Champions League and said we were under pressure. But we dealt with that, even if we just fell short at the final hurdle.
“So we have to keep going and go that one step further this time in both competitions.”
It’s inevitable that a number of critics suggest Liverpool will crumble at some stage in the Premier League and allow Manchester City to pip them at the post.
So the reaction after draws against West Ham and Leicester didn’t come PAUL SCHOLES says getting promoted to League One with Oldham would rival winning the Champions League and Treble in 1999.
The Manchester United legend (right) is putting his reputation on the line at Oldham – but is driven by the prospect of success in the dugout.
“If I managed a promotion out of League Two with Oldham it would rival anything I’ve done as a player,” said Scholes, 44. “That might sound weird to people because you’re talking about winning Champions Leagues and league titles and cups at United at the very highest level of the game.
“But this is something I’d be achieving as a manager myself. Well not just myself, of course, because you have coaches and a team around you, the players, fans and owner but responsibility for the team rests with the manager.” EMILE HESKEY is backing Liverpool to mount a dual campaign for domestic and European dominance as they prepare to take on
Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The former England striker (right) was part of the Liverpool side that won the cup treble in 2000/01.
That haul included a stunning triumph in the UEFA Cup.
“They’ve got the squad strength to cope with Europe and still challenge on all fronts,” said Heskey, 41.
“They’re not a side anyone will want to face in the Champions League. They can destroy sides in a short space of time.”