Koeman is happy to be distracted

Apr 3 2007 by Phil Barrett, Liverpool Daily Post Correspondent

PSV Eindhoven coach Ronald Koeman has urged his players to forget about their poor domestic form and enjoy their European adventure as they prepare to meet Liverpool in the Champions League.

The Dutch title holders have struggled of late in the Eredivisie and are without a win in three, including a 5-1 defeat to Ajax two weeks ago which allowed their great rivals to close the gap to just three points at the top of the table.

Koeman admits the Liverpool game is a welcome the distraction from their domestic troubles.

"The problems we have in the Dutch competition are in the background for a few days," said the former Holland international.

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"We have to be proud to be in this Champions League competition. Every sportsman wants to compete at the highest level."

Having beaten last season's finalists Arsenal in the last 16, the Eindhoven club are hoping to match the run which took them to the semi-finals in 2004-05 - the season Liverpool won the competition.

The Anfield club are no strangers to PSV either, with the two teams having met at the group stages of this year's tournament.

Liverpool came away from the two matches with the better record, a win and a draw.

"The motivation for the game against Liverpool is no problem." Koeman added. "It will be a very difficult game because Liverpool are a great team. So I would be satisfied with a goalless draw, although 1-0 would be much better."