'We know what we need to do and we are ready'
Barry Lewtas considers Liverpool U19s' 7-0 win over Napoli in their last UEFA Youth League outing a perfect example of what his team is all about.
Curtis Jones netted a hat-trick during the tie in Kirkby as the young Reds bounced back in style from the preceding 1-0 defeat by Genk.
Lewtas’ side now face Salzburg on Tuesday afternoon in their final group fixture needing just a draw to secure automatic qualification for the last 16 of the competition.
If the Austrian outfit win the game, Liverpool are already assured of at least a play-off place.
In October, the Reds came back from 2-1 down in the final 15 minutes to beat Salzburg 4-2.
But Lewtas and his players learned from that meeting that they cannot take their opponents lightly.
Ahead of the 1pm GMT kick-off today, read on for the boss’ pre-match thoughts…
On facing Salzburg…
We know what we need to do, which is to get a positive result to qualify as group winners. We always go into every game with the mentality of trying to win. It was a tough game against Salzburg the first time around so we know this is not going to be easy. We have just got to concentrate on being ourselves really and being the best version of ourselves. We believe in the way we play with the players that we have got so we have just got to make sure we are at it and ready to go.
On a good start being key…
We need to start well and get a foothold in the game and get control. We are also not naive and we know Salzburg will be doing everything they can to try to stop us getting into our stride. They did that well at St Helens and we have seen how difficult they could make it for us so we’ve just got to make sure we start this game the way we finished our last game against Salzburg. The last 15 minutes we were exceptional. It’s going to be a really good game and a big challenge but one I can certainly tell you we will be ready for.
On the 7-0 win over Napoli in their last group game…
LFCTV GO: Watch the Napoli highlights
It was a fantastic performance. I thought the first 30 minutes for that level of football was great. The boys showed what they are about individually but I think what was more pleasing was how they did it all together as well and put it together for a team performance. We scored seven, we could have scored a lot more, which is a real shoutout to what we are all about and how we want to play. Keeping a clean sheet was important as well so hopefully we can get that in this next game.
On hat-trick hero Jones and his continuing influence…
Curtis has got big experience now in the UEFA Youth League and this is his third season playing in the competition. He is the captain and he has a responsibility to lead the group, which I think he does ever so well, not just in the dressing room but on the pitch by how he plays. Against Napoli he did that and more, I thought he was really good. Curtis has been one of many players who have really stood out for us in the UEFA Youth League.