SIR BOBBY ROBSON: REDS FANS ARE INCREDIBLE

Paul Rogers 20 February 2007 Former Barcelona and England manager Sir Bobby Robson today sang the praises of the Liverpool supporters and explained why his former club must be wary of Rafael Benitez's well-drilled side.

Robson holds fond memories of his time in charge of the Nou Camp outfit but believes that Barcelona will be amazed by the atmosphere generated inside Anfield when the two teams contest the deciding return leg tie in a couple of weeks. "I think that playing at Liverpool's stadium is one of the most memorable experiences you can have as a footballer," claimed the 73-year-old. "The fans are incredible. It is different. The team belongs to the supporters; it is the team of the city and because of this, they create a very special atmosphere. "They sing, scream, are noisy and they generate an infernal atmosphere but, at the same time, it is very sporting. Barca can expect to have a bad time in Liverpool. If they go there and do not lose, they will have done well for themselves. The atmosphere that the players will encounter is one of the most stimulating that they could see right now in a stadium. The players will love it." While Frank Rijkaard's side have all that to look forward to, Robson believes that on Wednesday night they will face a team that is strong all the way from the back to front. "To be a good team, you have to be good in all parts of the team," explained the one-time national coach in an interview with Barcelona TV. "If you don't have a good midfield, or have a weak defence or a mediocre attack, you don't have a good team. The good teams have collective quality. "Liverpool have a very strong defence. Sami Hyypia may or may not play. They have Steve Finnan, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise - good defenders. "In the middle of the pitch, we find Steven Gerrard, a magnificent player of the highest level. They have a Spanish player who is excellent - Xabi Alonso. He is among the best. He knows how to control the play and has a great pass on him. "They have the striker Peter Crouch, who is English. I won't forget Craig Bellamy, who I signed when I was with Newcastle. He is very, very fast, and very dangerous. There is also the Dutchman, Dirk Kuyt, who is a good player with a lot of quality. They are not one player, they are a team."