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Fans throng Bangkok airport for glimpse of Liverpool players
Bangkok, July 24: Liverpool Football Club landed in Bangkok on Tuesday (July 22) for a friendly show-down with the national team which is expected to attract 50,000 fans.
Bangkok, July 24: Liverpool Football Club landed in Bangkok on Tuesday (July 22) for a friendly show-down with the national team which is expected to attract 50,000 fans.
Arriving in Thailand looking relaxed and rested despite a three-hour plane delay, the Liverpool team were warmly greeted by fans gathered outside their hotel.
The Reds have a huge following in the country, which local sponsors hope to cash in on. This is the biggest sports marketing event ever staged by a local cellular operator .
Determined fans waited for hours for a glimpse of England striker Michael Owen and the rest of the team. One fan described it as one of the most exciting moments of his life.
"When I was young my brother tell me this is a very very good team, and then I follow him and then I am fan of Liverpool football club right now", he said.
Manager Gerard Houllier said he was excited to be back in Thailand and hadn't forgotten the enthusiastic reception they received during their last visit two years ago.
"Last time we were here we were not amazed, we were stunned by the support and the popularity of the team. I can tell you the boys are very happy to be here. We had a very exciting time and I'm sure it will be the same. We'll work hard, we'll have a tough game again of course against the Thai team", he said.
He was relaxed when he faced a packed press conference, despite questions on rumours that their star striker might leave the club.
"If you believe what is in the press, there's always bad stories about us. I can tell you, the boy is very committed to Liverpool Football Club, he's got two years left on his contract. I don't think it's the right time to talk about it now, but we're confident that he'll stay with us".
He went on to express confidence in the club's future in spite of a disappointing last season. He said that young players coming up and new acquisitions were paving the path for a bright outlook.
Liverpool's major close-season signing was winger Harry Kewell, who joined the club for 5 million pounds ($8.01 million) from Leeds United earlier this month.
Houllier called it a fantastic signing, comparing him to Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane.
"Harry will probably bring a necessary link between the midfield and the strikers that we sometimes miss. I said that when Zidane left Bordeaux, he was about the same age as when Harry came to us".
But the 24-year-old Australian has not joined the squad in Bangkok for Thursday's friendly after picking up an ankle injury last weekend.
England striker Michael Owen said it was not clear how long his new team mate would be out. But he had nothing but praise forth versatile, young player.
"He's obviously injured at the moment, but I don't think it's too serious. So we're all looking forward to when he's fit again. And Harry can play in lots of different positions, he can play left, right, in behind the strikers, or I've seen him play for the national team as a striker as well, so he can play in a lot of different positions. There's not many players in the premiership that have got the qualities he's got. He can score goals".
The team will spend Wednesday training and fulfilling commitments to local sponsors that have spent more than 40 million baht ($956,500) setting up the trip.
Bureau Report
Manager Gerard Houllier said he was excited to be back in Thailand and hadn't forgotten the enthusiastic reception they received during their last visit two years ago.
"Last time we were here we were not amazed, we were stunned by the support and the popularity of the team. I can tell you the boys are very happy to be here. We had a very exciting time and I'm sure it will be the same. We'll work hard, we'll have a tough game again of course against the Thai team", he said.
He was relaxed when he faced a packed press conference, despite questions on rumours that their star striker might leave the club.
"If you believe what is in the press, there's always bad stories about us. I can tell you, the boy is very committed to Liverpool Football Club, he's got two years left on his contract. I don't think it's the right time to talk about it now, but we're confident that he'll stay with us".
He went on to express confidence in the club's future in spite of a disappointing last season. He said that young players coming up and new acquisitions were paving the path for a bright outlook.
Liverpool's major close-season signing was winger Harry Kewell, who joined the club for 5 million pounds ($8.01 million) from Leeds United earlier this month.
Houllier called it a fantastic signing, comparing him to Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane.
"Harry will probably bring a necessary link between the midfield and the strikers that we sometimes miss. I said that when Zidane left Bordeaux, he was about the same age as when Harry came to us".
But the 24-year-old Australian has not joined the squad in Bangkok for Thursday's friendly after picking up an ankle injury last weekend.
England striker Michael Owen said it was not clear how long his new team mate would be out. But he had nothing but praise forth versatile, young player.
"He's obviously injured at the moment, but I don't think it's too serious. So we're all looking forward to when he's fit again. And Harry can play in lots of different positions, he can play left, right, in behind the strikers, or I've seen him play for the national team as a striker as well, so he can play in a lot of different positions. There's not many players in the premiership that have got the qualities he's got. He can score goals".
The team will spend Wednesday training and fulfilling commitments to local sponsors that have spent more than 40 million baht ($956,500) setting up the trip.
Bureau Report