Why Javier Mascherano is the unsung hero of Liverpool FC

Mar 14 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

JAVIER MASCHERANO has been hailed as the unsung hero who can help inspire Liverpool to another European Cup final.

The Argentine midfielder was man of the match as Rafael Benitez’s side secured progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 1-0 win at Inter Milan on Tuesday night.

Mascherano has proven a huge success at Anfield since arriving on loan 14 months ago, a deal which was made permanent when an £17million transfer was finalised last month.

Compatriot Javier Zanetti was among several Inter players to have been outshone on the night by the man Diego Maradona described as a “monster”.

And the Inter captain reckons Mascherano is just as influential as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to the Anfield outfit.

“Mascherano does not get the credit he deserves,” said Zanetti. “Liverpool have some big players, they are very big players and they deserve their reputation.

“We know Torres is a killer. Gerrard is a fantastic player and I like him very much. Everyone would like him in their team, because he is one of the best in the world, no question. But are Liverpool a two-man team? No way. Mascherano is world class, I know that because I have seem him playing close up for Argentina and I can tell you how good he is. He gives Liverpool a lot of things.

“He keeps them together, and you could see how important he was over the two legs against Inter.

“I embraced him at the end of the tie and told him that he had won it for Liverpool, because he was a lion for them. He was everywhere. I think it is unfair to say that they are just Gerrard and Torres because they are Mascherano too. You need a player like him who is intelligent and can make the team work.”

Zanetti knows first-hand the quality of Mascherano having played alongside the 23-year-old for the Argentina national team for the last three years. And he added: “When we play for Argentina I can see what work he gets through, and how important he can be. Sometimes, in that position you do not get the credit you need, because it is not so attacking where all the glory is.

“With him in the side you are safe, and you can play. Argentina know that, and I think Liverpool do too. I think Torres and Gerrard can play because they are confident in Mascherano.

“They know he is there for them, to give them the ball and cover behind. He can play too, he can pass the ball to them, and make the runs for them.

“I knew when we drew Liverpool it would be a difficult game because they have Gerrard and Torres, but because their have Jav too. He is hard to get past, and he makes them strong.”

In winning through to the quarter-finals, Liverpool became the first foreign team to beat Inter both home and away in a European Cup campaign.

The result came as a surprise to many observers in England, but Zanetti reckons the Anfield outfit are packed with world class performers.

“People made us favourites to win, and we had the chances to beat Liverpool, but it is no shame losing to them,” added the Inter man. “I cannot understand why people are surprised that they do well.

“They have world class players in important posi-tions in their team. Their goalkeeper was very important against us, they have Carragher who Europe knows, and they have Torres and Gerrard. But they have Mascherano too, and he is just as important. With five players like that who are big players, Liverpool are a hard team to play against, and it is no surprise that they are the Champions League team.”