Friday 20th November 2009
Santa keen to ruin Rafa’s Christmas
Roque Santa Cruz has declared that he is out to deal another loss to Rafael Benitez’ struggling Liverpool side.
Santa Cruz and Manchester City travel to Anfield on Saturday aiming to get maximum points in their bid to finish the season in a Champions League spot.
Liverpool, on the other hand, could call it a season if the next few games in the Premier League and Champions League go awry.
"People say this is a big game for City, to prove we are worthy of being called a big club. But this is also a big game for Liverpool," Santa Cruz told The Sun.
"They'll look at us and see us above them in the table.
"Our main aim is to be in one of the Champions League places by finishing in the top four.
"So we need to go to Liverpool and prove we can take one of those places they want to be involved in.
"Next year we want to be playing in the Champions League at Manchester City."
Santa Cruz has experience gunning for Europe's elite competition with Bayern Munich.
Santa Cruz has been involved in title races in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.
The Paraguayan is aware that Liverpool has always been viewed as a massive fixture by Manchester United and feels City need to do the same.
"You can see from the past United always wanted to beat Liverpool, even though they were the champions.
"Big games like this are always different - they bring a lot of motivation to the players and are always special.
"I'm sure we will approach the game thinking in the same way that United do - that Liverpool are contenders we need to beat."
Mark Hughes' side have only lost a single Premier League match this season but have chalked up five draws in their last five games.
Santa Cruz, 28, added: "Of course we are heading in the right direction in terms of getting stronger as a team.
"This is a long race and what is important is what happens in the end.
"Even when we broke into the top four our gaffer was not 100 per cent happy with our performance.
"He is always looking to improve the way we play.
"I won't be surprised if we keep getting better. The quality in the squad is fantastic, they show it in training too.
"Everyone has something they bring to the squad. It's very hard to name just one player you are pleased to play with because we have so many."
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