LIVERPOOL stalwart Dirk Kuyt believes that the Liverpool fans will give the Reds an advantage when they renew their rivalry with Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday evening.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv, the Dutch World Cup finalist said:
“Yes, they are an advantage, they are a great support. I’ve been at the club almost six years now and I’ve played in many Liverpool v Chelsea games.
The one night I can especially remember was the semi-final at home (2007 Champions League). That night, the crowd was right behind us and it was one of the best atmospheres I ever played in.”
Kuyt, who came on as a late substitute against Cardiff in the Carling Cup final at Wembley and was an unused substitute against Everton in the semi-final, is hopeful of playing a part against Roberto di Matteo’s side at the weekend.
“Obviously if you’re not playing or starting it’s hugely disappointing but you have to be prepared for when the manager needs you,” said Kuyt.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team and the club. It was a great achievement to reach the final that day. I will try to do everything in training to get my place but we have more than 11 good options to pick a team. Hopefully I’ll be there. I’ve played in a couple of finals in my career and there is nothing better.”
The former Feyenoord star has made a habit of scoring crucial goals in big games, a trait that has endeared him even further to the Liverpool faithful, but Kuyt reckons that a goal against Chelsea on Saturday would top the lot and that F.A. Cup glory will spur the club on to future success.
“I like all the goals I’ve scored, but to score in finals is something really special,” said the 31-year-old.
“I’ve played in two finals for Liverpool and scored in both, so hopefully I’ll score my best goal ever on Saturday. I think it would be my favourite. As a kid I always watched the FA Cup. It’s special in England but it’s also special all over the world. It’s one of the most important cups in the world you can win.”
“It’d be a great achievement personally, but also for the club – it would give us an enormous boost to keep us going forward and be contenders,” he added.
Kuyt came off the bench to score against Cardiff in the second period of extra time, naturally, he thought it would be the winner. It wasn’t to be however, and the stoic Dutch ace was required to take a crucial penalty which, of course, he scored. But was he nervous?
“When you come on as a sub in extra-time and you score a goal you just think it’s going to be the winner, but that’s football,” he mused.
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“With penalties, two things can happen: you can score or you can miss, you just have to believe in yourself. Even after the misses of Charlie and Stevie, I was still confident we could win it. All I had to do was score. Of course you feel something in your body that it’s a big occasion, but I have a great belief in myself that I can do it.”
“I’ve taken a lot of penalties and lately I’ve missed a few, but that can happen. If the manager needs me to take a penalty on Saturday I’m more than ready.”
The fact that Liverpool have already beaten Chelsea twice this season is a source of confidence for the Dutchman:
“We’ve got great respect for them,” he said. “They are a powerful team, a very talented team. But we’ve got a lot of quality as well. We have to believe in our own possibilities. We showed we can compete with them earlier this season in the Carling Cup and in the league at Stamford Bridge.”
“If we play the way we played against them earlier in the season, and against the other big sides, we will be okay. Everyone is up for it, and though the fact it’s a final means anything can happen, we have to be ready.”
You can catch up with Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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