RAFA: HISTORY CAN REPEAT ITSELF
Rafael Benitez believes history could repeat itself with the Reds aiming for European glory in a season where they are battling to secure a top four place in the Premier League.
Liverpool have one foot in the last eight of the Champions League after Tuesday night's memorable 2-0 first leg victory over Inter Milan, with the return taking place in the San Siro in three weeks time.
While the Reds are again shining in the battleground of European competition, they are facing a tougher time domestically as they strive to end the campaign in the top four and secure a Champions League place for next season.
That scenario, of course, brings back happy memories for the manager who led his side to glory in Istanbul just three years ago.
"There, I suppose, is the prospect of history repeating itself with us going for a European final when we are not in the title race (as in 2005)," said Benitez.
"But I would prefer not to think that far ahead, I always say 'one game at a time' and never has that phrase been more appropriate.
"We have made it very difficult for Inter now, two goals and a clean sheet.
"But they have a lot of good players and we will need to show plenty of respect and approach the game with confidence, but no complacency.
"The victory was important for the club. We needed to play well for our own people, and the attitude of the players was very good. The whole night was really important for everyone at Liverpool.
"Everyone knew we needed to perform well, that was really the point after so much had been said about us.
"I have always had confidence in the team. If we can play like we did against Inter over and over again, it will be good and we will win a lot of games.
"I know what people were saying (about me). But as a professional you must be ready for every game, to prepare for every game the best you can and with the same ideas.
"You must concentrate, analyse everything, but above all be professional and do your job as best you can whatever the circumstances.
"Maybe the 'dressing room' felt the need to prove people wrong. But their attitude was no different really to plenty of other games.
"Some games we have played well and not won. The difference this season is that we have not been scoring enough goals even when we are well on top, and we have conceded goals too easily at times.
"That is why the confidence goes and you cannot win games in those situations."
He added: "This lead now is a big boost. We have confidence, because Inter are at the moment the best in Europe. They are top in Italy and have now lost just two games all season.
"If you can beat teams like that and play well, it gives us a high level of confidence in the squad.
"Now we have another important league game at the weekend at home to Middlesbrough. What we need to be is more consistent now.
"We must also accept that if we cannot score when we have clear chances we must keep going, keep working and make sure we do not concede a goal instead.
"We were aiming for a clean sheet, and two goals makes it better still.
"We will go to Milan with confidence but they are really good so we will not be over-confident.
"You could see the quality of Inter's players. And just look at their bench, they had (Patrick) Vieira, (Hernan) Crespo, (Luis) Figo plus very good defenders like (Nicolas) Burdisso.
"That is the sort of quality you are up against, that is why they will be very difficult in Milan." |
發表於 2008-2-22 11:39 AM
| 