Gerrard hails Reina
13/05/2006 - 19:39:40Two-goal hero Steven Gerrard paid tribute to goalkeeper Jose Reina after Liverpool won the FA Cup on penalties against West Ham.
Reina was at fault for two of the Hammers’ goals as the game ended 3-3 after extra time, but saved three penalties in the shoot-out.
“It’s very special, the supporters are fantastic and West Ham were brilliant today, but we had the never say die attitude,” Gerrard said.
“We felt our best chance was penalties because we had no energy left.
“We always knew if it went to penalties we had a really good chance, we feel we’ve got the better goalkeeper on the day.
“He made a great save in the last minute and he deserves to be the hero.”
Asked about his fitness ahead of the World Cup this summer, Gerrard added on BBC1: “I’m okay, I got a little bit of cramp but I’ve got a couple of weeks rest now and I’ll be okay.”
And on his two brilliant goals, the England midfielder added: “The second one was just a dream goal.
“It’s a dream for me to score two, and a penalty, and to be able to celebrate with all these magnificent fans.”
Reina admitted he had been lucky after the shoot-out victory had given him a chance to make up for earlier errors.
He told Sky Sports: “It was a difficult day for me and in the lottery of the penalties, I was lucky.”
He added: “Goalkeepers have to live in a small line between mistakes and saves.”
Reds manager Rafael Benitez paid tribute to the Liverpool fans for carrying his players through their 63rd game of a season which started last July in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
“The players are fantastic and also the supporters – they run more with the supporters,” he said.
West Ham manager Alan Pardew told Sky Sports 2: ``It felt like a defeat when the third goal went in but we rallied and had the biggest chance of extra-time.
“We had to dig in, this was a top team we were playing, but I really felt we were going to win it. Only a 35-yard smasher from Gerrard was going to change that.
“The players have been absolutely magnificent and we are proud of the way we played in making it a great game.”
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