Luis Garcia has come out of the woodwork this week to praise the currnet Liverpool squad, singling out a few players who have been key to the Reds success this season. Midifelders Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho are two of those he was singing the praises for.
"He has been one of the best players in the history of football, not just in terms of Liverpool" Garcia exclaimed when asked about captain Steven Gerrard. "It's amazing to think how important he was to Liverpool when we won the Champions League and how important he still is all these years on".
"I heard what Zinedine Zidane said recently about how Steven was the complete midfielder and could have played for anyone in Europe. He's right," Garcia added, ensuring that everyone understood his point. Garcia often shows his love for the club through social networking site Twitter, tweeting to his followers of his thoughts on the club, and his satisfaction with their performances this season. "They are going to make history - I believe they will win the title," he has stated, showing his confidence in not just Gerrard but the club as a whole.
And one of those many men he has praised is 21-year old Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho. "People just look at the number 10 on the shirt and the height" he said, showing he acknowledges the similarities fans mention often. "But there are some things we both like to do."
"He scored a brilliant goal [against Manchester City]" he stated "I think he's been very good."
"People were maybe having doubts, because of the kind of player he is, but he's got the confidence of the manager now," the 35 year old Spaniard told the press, "and he's still only 21!" Garcia, who left Liverpool in 2007 for Atletico Madrid after a 3 year spell at the club, went on to talk of more of Coutinho's ability. "He has a lot of quality, and knows how to keep the ball, look for the space and to give the accurate pass. He's also scoring goals. What more can you expect from a player like that?"
Garcia also spoke of his return to Anfield for the 'Celebration of the 96' memorial match. "I'm feeling nervous! Every time someone asks me, it's always nervous."
Luis Garcia is most popular among the fans for his 'ghost goal' versus Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final in 2005. Having been asked about it on numerous occasions, and with Jose Mourinho still foul about the incident, he has come out and told the media he thinks it was a goal and if not, it would have been a penalty and a red card for Petr Cech "flattening Milan Baros".