14-09-2006, 03:18 PM
KROMKAMP IMPRESSED BY REDS
Paul Rogers 14 September 2006
PSV defender Jan Kromkamp has praised the performance of his former Liverpool team-mates on Tuesday night and admitted that a point was the 'absolute maximum' his new club deserved in the opening game of the Champions League group stage.
Having moved to PSV on transfer deadline day, the Dutch international knew all about what to expect from this Liverpool side and considered the 0-0 draw a great result.
"We just could not break them down," revealed Kromkamp. "Liverpool played a very clever game. They seemed happy for us to have most of the possession but always had players closing down the space and making it difficult for us.
"It was the Liverpool of old in Europe. They defended really well. Once Kone's shot clipped the bar, it became increasingly apparent we didn't have the power or guile to open Liverpool up.
"We only had two decent chances in the 90 minutes, and it's a fact that they created more as the game went on. That was partly my fault. I was so eager to do well against my old club, I kept getting forward at every opportunity.
"Far more than I would normally do, and it left gaps at the back that Liverpool nearly exploited. It was a ploy aimed at trying to find a way through Liverpool's defence, but it went wrong and could so easily have cost us. Overall, though, we cannot be too disappointed as one of our main objectives was to avoid defeat. A draw keeps the group wide open."
Paul Rogers 14 September 2006
PSV defender Jan Kromkamp has praised the performance of his former Liverpool team-mates on Tuesday night and admitted that a point was the 'absolute maximum' his new club deserved in the opening game of the Champions League group stage.
Having moved to PSV on transfer deadline day, the Dutch international knew all about what to expect from this Liverpool side and considered the 0-0 draw a great result.
"We just could not break them down," revealed Kromkamp. "Liverpool played a very clever game. They seemed happy for us to have most of the possession but always had players closing down the space and making it difficult for us.
"It was the Liverpool of old in Europe. They defended really well. Once Kone's shot clipped the bar, it became increasingly apparent we didn't have the power or guile to open Liverpool up.
"We only had two decent chances in the 90 minutes, and it's a fact that they created more as the game went on. That was partly my fault. I was so eager to do well against my old club, I kept getting forward at every opportunity.
"Far more than I would normally do, and it left gaps at the back that Liverpool nearly exploited. It was a ploy aimed at trying to find a way through Liverpool's defence, but it went wrong and could so easily have cost us. Overall, though, we cannot be too disappointed as one of our main objectives was to avoid defeat. A draw keeps the group wide open."