"I don't agree there was anything advantageous about being eliminated from the Champions League. How could there be?" questioned Houllier.
"We are still in the UEFA Cup and that brings the same number of games and the same kind of intense competition.
"Chelsea may have a slight advantage because they have only the domestic competitions left but if we continue to progress in the UEFA Cup we will have games in February, March, April and May and we will be on the same schedule as Manchester United and Arsenal in the Champions League."
