Flores wants positive Atletico

Atletico Madrid manager Quique Sanchez Flores has urged his side not to sit back and allow Liverpool to seize the initiative in their Europa League semi-final, second leg.

Anfield has witnessed many memorable European nights over the years and Flores is aware Madrid's 1-0 lead will count for little if the home side get off to a good start tonight.

"We have to maintain the same intensity and concentration that we showed in the first leg," Flores said.

"It is important we keep possession of the ball, try to assert ourselves and be positive.

"What I don't want is us to play a waiting game to see how Liverpool turn out.

"We want to play our football in an area where we are creating problems for Liverpool and not ourselves.

"If we press them in their half of the field we maybe have a chance of scoring a goal, which would obviously make things more difficult for Liverpool."

Flores has spoken to his players about the atmosphere inside Anfield but many of his squad are more qualified than him to talk about it as they played in the Champions League fixture on Merseyside last season, before Flores took over.

"We've discussed the atmosphere but I've a very experienced group of players who have played in World Cups, European Championships and Champions Leagues," he added.

"They experienced it first hand having played in the group stages last season.

"With the players we have it is all about how we start each half. If Liverpool start strongly the crowd will respond.

"Our experiences in Lisbon, Valencia and Istanbul are experiences we can draw on (Atletico have yet to be beaten away in the Europa League)."

After a poor start to their league season, Atletico have already booked their place in the Copa del Rey final in Spain and are on the verge of a European final.

But Flores said his side should not become complacent.

"It doesn't make us presumptuous or that we are settling for what we have got in reaching the semi-final," he added.

"We have a chance of achieving something which doesn't come around every week and getting to two finals in one season would be fantastic.

"It is all about reaching for that dream now and trying to attain it."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.