Agger adds to Liverpool's swagger
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Article summary
Daniel Agger said Liverpool FC are eager to "win every single game" as they head into their quarter-final return against PSV Eindhoven with a 3-0 lead.
Article body
Daniel Agger is determined to stay focused and turn in his usual committed performance for Liverpool FC as they welcome PSV Eindhoven to Anfield for the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg.
'Confidence is there'
With a 3-0 lead from last week's match in Eindhoven, Agger is well aware of the dangers of taking progress to the semi-finals for granted on Wednesday night. He insists Liverpool are not only keen to hold PSV at bay; the five-time European champions also want to go through to the last four in style. "I know I speak for all the guys when I say we want to win every single game and it doesn't matter if it's the [UEFA] Champions League, FA Cup or the Premier League," said Agger. "I know we will work hard to score the first goal and win the game. Of course the clean sheet in the first leg was important but that's true in every game. The confidence is there."
Great composure
Agger says he has enjoyed the quicker tempo of English football since his €8.4m transfer from Brøndby IF in January 2006 and he has shown great composure in seven UEFA Champions League appearances this season, emerging as a solid partner for the ever-dependable Jamie Carragher and long-term replacement for Sami Hyypiä at the heart of Liverpool's defence. "I just love to play football," said Agger. "I try to work hard every single day in training. I do my best and always give 100 per cent, being as professional as I can."
Tattoo denial
The Danish international has denied newspaper reports that he is preparing to add a depiction of the UEFA Champions League trophy to his extensive collection of body tattoos at the end of the campaign. When asked if it was true, Agger gave uefa.com an emphatic "No way!" response, though manager Rafael Benítez joked that he has talked with Agger about getting a tattoo of his own. Of his gifted 22-year-old protégé, Benítez continued with genuine conviction: "He's a young player with experience and it is not easy to find a centre-back with such quality. He can play with the ball, organise the defence and he is improving with every training session because it's true that he is a very good worker. Daniel is very mature for his age."
