Baroš hopes for final chance

By Brian Brownstein

In an AC Milan side flush with attacking talent, Andriy Shevchenko stands out as head and shoulders above the rest, according to Liverpool FC striker Milan Baroš.

Dangerous striker
Shevchenko has scored six goals in this season's UEFA Champions League for the Serie A side and ahead of the final at Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic stadium, Baroš warned his Liverpool team-mates that they must keep a close eye on the Ukrainian striker.

Lethal armoury
"Shevchenko will be very dangerous. He is the 2004 European Footballer of the Year and that says it all," Baroš told uefa.com. "What I like about him is his positional sense in the penalty area. He is very quick and can score with his right or left foot and with his head. He is one of the best strikers in the world along with Thierry Henry, Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooij."

Cissé back
Baroš has only scored two goals in this season's competition, and his place in Liverpool's starting line-up for the showpiece final is under threat from Djibril Cissé. The France international suffered a broken leg in October, yet returned to the Reds' starting line-up with a bang, scoring twice Aston Villa FC in the final Premiership game of the season.

Final decision
On the eve of the final, Baroš knew it was far from certain that he would start the game. He said: "I will do my best to keep my place ahead of Cissé. I am calm at the moment and focusing on the game. However, Rafael Benítez will make the final decision about who will play from the first minute. We will see."

Credit due
Liverpool manager Benítez has had an incredible impact at Anfield since his arrival from Valencia CF last summer, and Baroš thinks the Spaniard deserves huge praise for guiding the English side to their first European Cup final for 20 years.

Vast experience
"Rafael Benítez has had great experiences in European football and he gives us useful information about every opponent," Baroš, 23, said. "As we know, he won the UEFA Cup with Valencia [CF] last year and he deserves lots of credit for getting us so far. The whole team is sharing in the success under him."

Traoré revived
Djimi Traoré is one players who has thrived under Benítez. The 25-year-old was on the verge of leaving Liverpool at the start of the season, before a last-minute reprieve scuppered a move to city-rivals Everton FC. Since then, the left-back has seen a massive reversal in his fortunes and has come to the fore in Liverpool's run to the final.

Final glory
"I have been here for six years and this has been one of my greatest moments - I hope in Istanbul that I will play," Traoré told uefa.com. "The Champions League final is the one of the best moments of any player's career. Perhaps only playing in a [FIFA] World Cup final can match it."

Italian blow
Traoré thinks he will mark the greatest day of his career by lifting the trophy. He acknowledges that Liverpool are underdogs, yet believes Milan could be fatally affected by the loss of their Serie A title to Juventus FC at the weekend.

Ten-day break
He said: "We are underdogs, but we have an advantage in that we have had a nice calm ten-day period to prepare whereas AC Milan had to play at the weekend and have had the psychological blow of losing their league title. Maybe that will be a little blow to their morale, and we'll be only too happy to hammer that home."