Published: 8 April, 2009, 12:13
Edited: 8 April, 2009, 12:13
Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink made it clear his team would not settle for a 0-0 draw at Liverpool in the Champions League quarterfinals and rely on their home ground advantage in the second leg.
"We came here [to Anfield] not to sit back and wait until they overcome and then react. I think that is not the way to play football in my philosophy. My ideas and now the team's concept is to play football. So, we are coming here not to wait. Wherever we can, we will try to take the initiative", Guus Hiddink said.
Chelsea beat Liverpool 4-3 on aggregate in last season's Champions League semifinals, winning the right to face Manchester United in the final in Moscow.
Coach Rafa Benitez and his Liverpool side are riding a ten-match unbeaten streak in the top European club competition prior to this match-up.
To add to their confidence, the Merseysiders are undefeated in five home meetings with the Blues, winning the last match 2-0 back in February.
Benitez, however, said he'd prefer to play at home for the second leg.
"Clearly the difference is not too big between both sides, so I feel the little things, the small details, will be the difference. But to play home or away, it depends on the first game. if you can play well and score goals and keep a clean sheet. But, you never know, I prefer to play at Anfield the second game, but we cannot change, so we will try to do well", Rafa Benitez said.