Cisse still not fully fit
Two-goal hero Djibril Cisse admits he is only “70 or 80% fit” as he heads for the Champions League final.
Cisse scored twice in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa to stake his claim emphatically for a place in the starting line-up on May 25 in Istanbul when Liverpool take on AC Milan for the biggest prize in club football.
If he his picked, Milan Baros could miss out as result unless manager Rafael Benitez takes the unlikely step of playing both his main strikers in the Ataturk Stadium.
Cisse, who almost lost a leg when he suffered a severe fracture at Blackburn in October, was not expected to play again this season when he began his rehabilitation.
Now he says of the prospect of playing in Istanbul: “I am not thinking about starting against Milan, that is a decision for the manager to make.
“It was just important that we finished our league season with three points against Aston Villa. I feel good but still only about 70 or 80% fit.”
However, Cisse could not hide his delight at a comeback that has boosted Benitez’s options for Istanbul.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: “I scored the goals not for me but for the fans and the medical staff.”
Cisse opened the scoring against Villa from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Mark Delaney and added a second after clever play by Josemi.
Gareth Barry pulled a goal back in the second half for Villa but Liverpool held on for the win.
Cisse added: “It was really important for me to score before the end of the season because of all the work I have done at Melwood with the staff and players.
“I am strong in my head and always knew that I would play and score again but it was really special to do it at Anfield, in front of the Liverpool fans, my family and my girlfriend.”
Benitez has until Wednesday week to work on Cisse’s fitness and to make a decision about the make-up of his side in Turkey.
He said: “It was good to finish the season winning, and watching our supporters at the end was just fantastic for us all.
“Cisse needed to score goals, he is very happy and we are as well because we can play either him or Baros or both.
“It was difficult for him after the injury to even say he would play again. He has worked really hard with the medical staff and in training, so to play 90 minutes was difficult for him but we now have 10 more days to work on him and he is a real possibility now.
“If you have only one striker you have no selection problem, no choice. So now we have more options and that is good for us.”
Benitez also spared a word for Jamie Carragher, the only Liverpool player who has figured in every match and every minute of their league season.
He said: “I was delighted for him, he has had a wonderful season. He was captain for the final game and deserved that.
“Carragher has played all the games, every minute, and that is hard for anyone. Sometimes goalkeepers can do that but as an outfield player it is very difficult.
“We didn’t play too well in the second period but we got another boost with Josemi back after five months out and that is good for him as well as us.”
REF’S REPORT: Barry Knight had no option with the penalty after Mark Delaney’s daft challenge on Djibril Cisse, and that was about the only decision to test him all afternoon.
FUSSY FACTOR: He could have controlled this one from a deckchair.
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