Riise won't rue Monaco success

Last updated : 07 May 2004 By Chris Maxwell
The enterprising full-back left behind the debt-ridden Principality to seal a £4m move to Liverpool and, despite missing out on a Champions League final, the Norwegian star is more than happy to be at Anfield.

Riise said: "I didn't expect Monaco to get so far in the Champions League. When I left there were problems at the club and I believe there still are. But it looks as though Didier Deschamps has done a great job.

"There were many youngsters who were nowhere near the first team while I was there, but now they're regulars and have performed really well. But I came to Liverpool because I thought it was a bigger, greater club and I still believe that.

"It's been hard to watch the Champions League this year at home, but I don't like watching football on the television anyway because I'm the type of person who can't sit still when a game is on.

"We know we have to join the Champions League next season because that's where we belong."

The 23-year-old will be hoping for Champions League success with Liverpool next season as the Reds close in on a much-coveted top four spot.

Riise said: "We know two wins will do it so that's how we're approaching the game.

"It's so close and Aston Villa and Newcastle will be thinking exactly the same way as us, feeling if they get six points out of six they'll qualify. We're feeling confident though and it's good from our point of view we still have Newcastle to play because we can do something about the situation.

"What Aston Villa do is out of our hands and that makes them a big threat. Birmingham is going to be a hard place for us to go and win and it's somewhere we need to be at our best.

"I played there last year when we lost 2-1. It's going to be very tough. When I came to England, Birmingham was a team I knew very little about. But now they've shown they're a big club with some great players."