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Chukwueze: Pressure all on Liverpool
Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze believes underdog status can once again help them spring a Champions League shock against Liverpool.
The Yellow Submarine sunk Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich 2-1 on aggregate earlier this month to seal their unlikely spot in the semi-finals.
Now, the man who scored the crucial goal in that memorable tie claims he and his team-mates are ready to write more history, starting with a positive result in this evening’s first leg at Anfield.
Nigerian forward Chukwueze, 22, said: “We know all about Liverpool and they are expected to win, so the pressure is on them.
“We have a squad and manager good enough to compete against any team in the world. Because of the way Liverpool play some people have already made their own predictions but that is normal in football.
“We have a job to do and we are not going to Liverpool to lose. Why not aim for the best result over there? And that is what we hope to do.”
They take on a Reds side looking to make a third Champions League final in five seasons and who remain in pursuit of an unprecedented Quadruple.
Forest keep automatic hopes alive
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper hailed his side’s “heart and soul” after watching them stun Championship leaders Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.
Philip Zinckernagel’s opportunistic first-half strike not only maintained Forest’s automatic promotion bid but means the Cottagers must keep thec champagne on ice a little while longer with the title not wrapped up.
Second-placed Bournemouth came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Swansea, meaning Marco Silva’s leaders — currently eight points clear — are still one favourable result short of sealing the title.
Meanwhile, Forest only trail Scott Parker’s Cherries by three points and have the same goal difference with three games left, including a mammoth meeting with each other next Tuesday.
Speaking at full time, Cooper, 42, said: “We put Fulham under great pressure at the start of the game and that resulted in us getting some really good opportunities, particularly in the first half, and we forced mistakes.
“Second half we had to change slightly but we showed great heart and soul. It was a physical and emotionally demanding game but I really liked us tactically without the ball and that’s credit to the work we’ve put in on the training pitch.
“We’ve got to stay focused, we’ve got to stay ready, recover well and turn our concentration on to the next game.”
