Sami ready for Sheva
ByReuters
Published 24/05/2005 at 15:16 GMT
Liverpool's Finnish centre-back Sami Hyypia is not worried about facing AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko for the first time in Wednesday's Champions League final. Follow the whole game LIVE on eurosport.com from 20:45cet on Wednesday!
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
Shevchenko, the European Footballer of the Year, has scored six Champions League goals this season and is looking to win a second European Cup winners' medal.
The battle for dominance between the 31-year-old Finn and the 28-year-old Ukrainian could determine which team lifts the trophy at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
"He is one of the best strikers in the world but I haven't played against him before. I will prepare as I always do -- it doesn't make any difference that I haven't played against him," Hyypia said.
Shevchenko's goal-scoring record is among the best in Europe since joining Milan from Dynamo Kiev in 1999.
His tally of 108 goals in 179 Serie A matches is enough to give any centre-back nightmares.
He has also scored 47 goals in 85 competitive European matches and 26 goals in 58 games for Ukraine who are likely to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time next year.
Hyypia's relaxed attitude may have something to do with the defender not counting on being in the final.
"Every year you have to believe you can win everything and I believe we can do that tomorrow, but to be honest at the start of the season I did not think we would be in the Champions League final," he said.
"It will be nice to lift it (the cup) and take it back to Liverpool but you can't think about that now. We are aware we are on the verge of writing a new page in Liverpool's history.
"Everyone is always talking about the good days when Liverpool were dominant in England and Europe and this is our chance to add to that history.
"Maybe this will be our only chance to win the cup, so I cannot let it go easily."
SCANDINAVIAN ATTRACTION
Liverpool fans have been streaming into Istanbul from all over Europe with hundreds coming from Scandinavia where Hyypia fell in love with English football as a youngster.
"What attracts so many supporters of my age is that they saw Liverpool being very dominant 15 or 20 years ago.
"The matches were always on at 3 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, or five o'clock in Finland and when I was young I watched it every single week."
No matter what the outcome on Wednesday, Hyypia believes Liverpool's fortunes are on the rise in the Premier League after finishing fifth this season.
"We have been playing better in the Champions League than the Premier League but next year will be different."
He declined to be drawn on whether Liverpool should be allowed to compete in next year's Champions League if they won on Wednesday after they missed out on an automatic qualifying place.
"I don't even want to talk about that now, let us win it first," he said.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement