Roma coach Fabio Capello admitted last night that Liverpool are potential Champions League winners. Capello had been highly critical of Liverpool's tactics before last night's scoreless draw in Rome but after the Anfield team defended brilliantly to earn a vital point, Capello accepted that the Premiership club could prove major players in this year's tournament. "Liverpool are one of the teams who can win the competition. They are one of the best teams in Europe and continue to prove it," he said.
Liverpool caretaker boss Phil Thompson was also optimistic about the club's chances of progressing into the knock-out stages. "We can now go on and get through. We go into the winter break with a point and high hopes. If we had lost it would have been very difficult, but with Barcelona drawing at home to Galatasaray in the other match in our group, things are very tight and that was a good result for us," he said.
"We were magnificent, in a difficult stadium against a fine team with massive, passionate support. Liverpool were absolutely superb. We dominated the first half and showed our defensive qualities in the second," he pointed out.
"We came in at half-time feeling that we had done really well and could have been two goals ahead. We knew and expected Roma, with all their qualities, were going to come out at us and improve and that's what they did. We could hear Fabio Capello in their dressing, he was very angry and was shouting at half-time. We could hear him through the wall of our room. He wanted more from his team and that's what he got. We knew they would come out and attack us, but that was when we showed how well we can defend," added Thompson.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
