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Mark González celebrates his first goal for Liverpool (©Getty Images)
González excited by Chelsea test

Friday, 13 April 2007

There may be three English teams in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals but the competition's denouement will be no domestic affair. Indeed Liverpool FC's squad of 29 comprises players from 15 nationalities including Chile winger Mark González, who can look forward to his first appearance in the last four when the Merseysiders face Chelsea FC.
González joy
The Liverpool players were in no hurry to share their thoughts on the formality of their win over PSV Eindhoven with reporters after Wednesday's second leg. John Arne Riise, speaking to journalists from his native Norway, and the ever-obliging Peter Crouch, answering queries on his Chelsea connections, were among the exceptions along with the diminutive González, equally happy to speak in English or Spanish. He told uefa.com: "I am very, very happy to be in the semi-finals. I think we dealt with things well tonight. Maybe it was a boring game knowing we had a very big advantage from the first leg, but the most important thing is that we won and we are in the semi-finals and now we have to think about Chelsea."
Chelsea challenge
González, who finally arrived at Anfield last summer after a protracted transfer from Albacete Balompié, said he does not think Liverpool's 2-0 Premiership victory over the English champions in January will have much bearing on their second European semi-final encounter in three seasons. "We are very confident but we know this game is going to be very different," the 22-year-old said. "It is not the Premiership, it is the UEFA Champions League semi-final. It is going to be a very tough game, we know that. We know Chelsea and they know us so it is going to be very difficult."
Top league
The Premiership dominance of the UEFA Champions League this term has not surprised the former Albacete and Real Sociedad de Fútbol flyer. "I've always said that the Premiership is the best league in the world," he stressed. "Right now three teams are in the semi-finals and that is something. Manchester United [FC] are doing very well, fighting for the [UEFA] Champions League and the Premiership and Chelsea are as well. But we know we are doing things well and are very confident. If we're here [in the semi-finals], we're doing things right."
Not satisfied
Despite the positive words on Liverpool's chances, González is candid enough to admit that his debut campaign has not gone as well as hoped. He has started just eleven league games and two UEFA Champions League matches. "I think the season hasn't been the best," explained the one-time CD Universidad Católica prodigy. "I said at the very beginning it was hard for me to change from Spain to England. The football is totally different and maybe journalists have asked: 'What's happened to Mark González?' But I'm very calm about that and I know I can do more. When? I don't know. I think in the last few games I have been feeling more confident and playing better, and hopefully I can show much, much more." Starting, perhaps, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 25 April.
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