Liverpool's Pepe Reina is delighted to ‘fill in’ for Iker Casillas

Jun 18 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

Pepe Reina (158)

PEPE REINA is determined to make his mark on Euro 2008 when he gets his first chance to make an appearance in the tournament tonight.

The Liverpool goalkeeper is only playing because Spain are already through to the quarter-finals as Group C winners and coach Luis Aragones doesn’t want to risk injury to any of his first-choice players, including number one Iker Casillas.

But Reina is determined that if circumstances lead to him being called on again further down the line, he is sharp enough to do himself justice.

“Iker is playing at a high level and there is no reason to replace him,” Reina said ahead of the meeting with already-eliminated Greece in Salzburg.

“I know that I could be called in at a difficult moment and I would be delighted to help.

“I hope not, but if something like an expulsion or an injury happens to Iker, you have to be ready.

“I always go out there ready to play. You always go out with the intention of playing and when you do get a chance, just don’t screw it up.”

Reina has only won nine caps for Spain, playing 70 times less than Real Madrid’s Casillas despite his rival for the keeper’s jersey being just over a year older.

That statistic is indicative of the policy of Spanish football chiefs like Aragones, who prefer their players to be based in their homeland.

This stance won’t waver during the current championships no matter how Reina performs, although he is keen to not be the first player to let a goal in against a Greece side who have made a feeble attempt to defend their European champions crown.

“The mentality (in your preparation) is the same – you need to compete whether you are playing or not,” Reina added.

“We just need to have a good game and show that we can be counted on for any moment.

“I’ll go out there motivated to take advantage of the minutes and to win.”

Reina will be joined in the Spanish team by Xabi Alonso tonight, while another Liverpool team-mate Fernando Torres is likely to be left out.

Torres and David Villa have shared five goals between them so far in the tournament and will be rested ahead of Sunday’s quarter-final against Italy, who progressed last night with a 2-0 victory over France.

Meanwhile, Reina is confident that Liverpool will still have the means to challenge for the Premier League title next season but is resigned to the fact that a record signing on the scale of Torres is beyond the club this summer.

Reina said: “Things aren’t especially good (economically) but I imagine there will be some important signings for the club that will help us be more competitive.

“Basically, we’re just worrying about the sporting side of things and winning a league title, that’s the principle objective of the team.

“Of course you hope that everything comes into order (off the field) but there is little to say, since we can do little.”