Deportivo Coruna coach Javier Irureta believes Liverpool have an advantage in Tuesday’s Champions League clash because of their Spanish players and coach.
“They start with a bit of an advantage because their coach (Rafa Benitez) has a comprehensive knowledge of our team and knows us better than we know them,” Deportivo coach Javier Irureta said before his team left for Liverpool on Monday.
“We also have the added difficulty of having to travel to Anfield which is one of the most difficult grounds in Europe to play at.”
Former Valencia coach Rafael Benitez, now in charge at Liverpool, has signed Spaniards Xabi Alonso, Josemi, Luis Garcia as well as the injured Antonio Nunez – all of whom have intimate knowledge off the way Deportivo play..
But Irureta believes is side’s improved domestic form, will place them in good stead tat Anfield.
“It has all the ingredients to be a great match because whoever wins will have taken an important step towards qualification,” he said.
“But we have received an important lift from our recent victories over Real Madrid and Getafe and have achieved some important wins at some of Europe’s great grounds in the past and we are aiming to do that again.”
