Luis Garcia has told skysports.com that facing Liverpool on Wednesday will be 'very special' to him.
Former Reds star ready to face his old club
Luis Garcia has told
skysports.com that facing Liverpool on Wednesday will be 'very special' to him.
The Spanish forward is now plying his trade at Atletico Madrid and he will get the chance to face his former club and team-mates as they meet Liverpool in Group D of the UEFA Champions League
Garcia spent a highly successful three years at Anfield after arriving from Barcelona in 2004 as one of Rafa Benitez's first signings at the club.
He was a popular figure with the Liverpool fans and his role in their 2005 Champions League victory, which crucially included the wining goal against Chelsea in the semi-final second-leg, is still remembered.
Garcia will face Liverpool for the first time since leaving for Atletico last year and he is relishing a clash against his former club.
"Liverpool have good memories for me, because of this it will be very special for me," he told
skysports.com.
"I have waited for this match, in my head it is different and not the same as playing one of our normal rivals."
Garcia admits he is not bitter in any way about being sold by The Reds.
"I am not anger about my exit, a player fulfils a cycle in football and it can always be the moment to change," he said.
"I lived some incredible moments at Liverpool, but now I am totally dedicated to Atletico Madrid.
"Our challenge is to win matches, I am friends with The Reds but they need to suffer in our stadium."
Torres boost
Garcia admits that Fernando Torres's absence due to injury is sorry news, but it is a boost for Atletico.
"The injury of Fernando Torres is bad for everyone, but in a sporting aspect it is good for Atletico. He will recover and will have the chance to play in the return match at Anfield."
He is expecting a tight match and he thinks that whoever opens the scoring will win the contest.
"The match is very equal and open, the two teams know each other and that rules out any surprise," he said.
"I believe the first team to score will get the victory."
Atletico are not in the greatest of form coming into the game having lost their last two league fixtures - but Garcia thinks Sergio Aguero will help unlock Liverpool's defence.
"In La Liga we have suffered two consecutive defeats and that has been hard on us, but now our heads are concentrated on Liverpool because we are developing a good season in the Champions League," he said.
"Aguero will be the key man on Wednesday. He is a unique forward and could do mad things on the pitch.
"He can break a defence and this will be a big problem for The Reds."
