Pepe ready for new challenge

25th Nov 2009 - Latest News

Pepe Reina insists Liverpool have already switched their focus to Europa League success following their elimination from the Champions League last night.

Fiorentina's single goal victory over Lyon rendered Liverpool's 1-0 success in Debrecen as irrelevant, as the Reds went out in the group stages of the competition for the first time under Rafael Benitez.
 
Liverpool can now look forward to their first experience of the new UEFA Europa League, with the draw for the first knock-out stage due to take place on December 18.
 
"Of course we're disappointed because this is a big competition that we've done well in for the last three or four years," said Reina. "Now we're out, though. It's a tough competition and it's not always possible to get out of the group stage.
 
"The Europa League is another competition for us and we want to win it. It also has strong teams and it will be nice to play in it. It's already become a target. It'll be tough because there are so many good teams involved, but we have to look forward and keep trying to win."
 
Next up for the Reds, though, is this weekend's Merseyside derby when Liverpool will be looking to quickly show they have overcome their Champions League disappointment.
 
"To beat Everton is always huge, especially for the fans," added Reina. "We'll be trying because we also need to win in the league and in the race for fourth place. We have to move on and keep fighting."

Author: Paul Eaton
Tagged: europa league , pepe , pepe reina



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