Toulouse confident ahead of clash

Aug 15 2007 by Paul Walker, Liverpool Daily Post

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TOULOUSE defender Mauro Cetto believes his side’s victory over French champions Lyon at the weekend is the perfect tonic ahead of their Champions League qualifying clash with Liverpool.

Les Violets, who are playing in the Champions League for the first time, were given no chance of making it into the tournament’s group stages when they were paired with Liverpool, one of Europe’s heavyweight teams.

A 3-1 defeat to lowly Valenciennes on the opening day of the Ligue 1 season appeared to give further momentum to the notion that Liverpool would walk the third-round qualifying double header.

But confidence has returned to the Toulouse camp following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Lyon, the reigning six-time French title-holders.

And centre-back Cetto is bullish ahead of the arrival of Liverpool to the Stade Municipal today.

“We have prepared well for the match with the victory against Lyon,” said the defender, a summer recruit from Nantes.

“Now we are already looking forward to getting on the pitch.

“We are all confident – the win has reassured us after the match against Valenciennes.

“Liverpool is another match, though. We must challenge ourselves again immediately. It is a very big match, a match you don’t come across every day.

“And we are delighted to be able to play in it.

“It is going to be very difficult, and we are going to have to try not to concede at home. We go into the match with a lot of desire, while at the same time respecting Liverpool and knowing we have a small chance.

“There is always a chance of winning. You just have to believe.”