AcademyYouth League preview: 'We're already through but still want a good performance'
Liverpool U19s are keen to deliver a strong performance against Internazionale despite having already qualified for the knockout phase of the UEFA Youth League.
A 1-0 home win over PSV Eindhoven last time out – earned by a late Trent Kone-Doherty goal – ensured the young Reds’ progress with one game to spare.
Liverpool’s final league-phase fixture is away in Italy on Tuesday (3pm GMT kick-off) and All Red Video members can watch it live at video.liverpoolfc.com.
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Assistant coach Simon Wiles has outlined their determination to finish on a high against opponents sure to be motivated by their own chance of qualification.
Wiles told Liverpoolfc.com: “We set out to try and win all of our home games first and foremost, but we drew against Atletico Madrid and then got beat by Real Madrid.
“But we have done really well away from home and for us to get a victory against PSV at the Academy was really pleasing for us.
“Going to Inter now, we still want to go there and put in a good performance. We know we are through but there are definitely things we can build on from the previous fixture.”
Reflecting on the win over PSV, Wiles said: “We were delighted with the performance more than anything. The games in the Youth League are always a challenge and they always pose different challenges for the players and for Rob [Page] and myself.
“So, for the players to go and put a good performance in and come away with a victory, the lads were in really good spirits and we are just delighted that a lot of the U18s squad were involved in that as well.
“It’s great for all of them to get a feel of what this competition is all about.”
Wiles is head coach of the Reds’ U18s and assists U21s boss Page, who leads the U19s in the Youth League.
“It is fantastic to work alongside someone like Rob, who has so much managerial experience with being Wales manager, and the exposure he had with the World Cup and Euros,” Wiles added.
“Just being able to pick his brains and see how he worked in those pressurised environments has been invaluable to me.
“To see how he achieved the ultimate goal in qualifying for those tournaments with Wales was really intriguing for me and I’m always learning when I’m alongside him, so to actually work with him in this competition has definitely helped me.
“It is helping me develop as a coach and it’s just fantastic. We have a really good working relationship and have a really good relationship away from it as well, so it’s just all moving in the right direction for us both and we are delighted to progress.”