LIVERPOOL, England, 24 May 2005 — Luis Garcia says the whole of Spain will be rooting for Liverpool to beat AC Milan in tomorrow’s Champions League final.
The English Premier League side are popular in Spain after installing Rafael Benitez as manager and buying six Spanish players.
“It is good that in Spain now everyone is supporting Liverpool because all the La Liga teams are out and there are lots of Spanish players and the manager at Anfield,” Garcia told reporters.
“We are all getting lots of calls wishing us luck from back home, it is nice to feel that sort of support from Spain.”
Garcia left Barcelona to join Liverpool in the summer but has no regrets on missing out on a La Liga title with his former club who held off the challenge of Real Madrid.
“I have spoken to some of the players at Barcelona... and they are very happy to have won the league,” he added. “Maybe I could have been there with them but I have no regrets about this move.
“I am happy for them but I think I made the best choice because I am playing in the European Cup final.”
Garcia was tempted into quitting Spain by his loyalty to fellow countryman and Liverpool manager Benitez.
“I first met Rafa six years ago in Tenerife and he gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.
“He always believes in me and has always tried to give me what a player needs - the confidence on the pitch to do the right things.
“He always believed in me and he always supported me. He has been a massive influence on my career and I hope I can play for him for a long time.“We won promotion with Tenerife and then went our separate ways. But I always felt I would play for him again.
“We talked a lot over the last five years, and when I was with Atletico Madrid he wanted to sign me for Valencia and maybe I felt that soon I would be with him again.
“When he wanted to sign me from Barcelona to come to Liverpool I had no doubts about the choice. I jumped at it.
Garcia has excelled in Liverpool’s European games this season scoring five goals, including a vital strike in the quarterfinal win over Juventus.
“It has been good for me to score some important goals and it has helped my confidence,” he added. “I enjoy scoring and the Champions League has been very lucky for me.
“I suppose the goal against Juventus at Anfield is the one that stands out for me. I enjoyed that game and I have great memories of that night and the goal that I scored.
“Now we play Milan and for everyone it is the most important game of our lives — especially for me, and I intend to enjoy the moment.
