Rafael Benitez says that Liverpool’s American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, have reassured him he has their confidence to pursue his team development strategy irrespective of their fate in this year’s Champions League.
“I don’t think our spending longer term will depend on what we do in the Champions League,” Benitez said. “My meetings with the Americans – and we have talked about everything – has been about the plan we have. If we win more games it will be easier with more money, but the plan does not depend on this competition.
“The owners are very supportive. When you prepare a plan for a club it is not for one year, it is for a number of years. We have brought in new players and re-signed players as part of that plan. We have not talked about money but ideas and I think they are pleased with my ideas.
” Despite that backing, Benitez knows life will be easier if his team turn around their Champions League form and take the maximum points they seek from their remaining fixtures, starting with the Group A match with Besiktas on Tuesday.
Injuries deny him some of his better players, including Fernando Torres, but the Spaniard’s loss could be Peter Crouch’s gain. The Englishman, frustrated at his limited opportunities this season, could have an important role to play in Liverpool’s salvage job.
Benitez said: “All the players who are not playing regularly need to show that they want to play. When you’re in a top side and you are a winner you must show that mentality. Crouch is one of these players. “It’s important for us to win on Tuesday but sometimes the problem is that you set high standards, as we have done in the Champions League.
“We have confidence we can beat Besiktas and then progress. But this is the Champions League and you cannot be surprised we are in the position we are in.”
“I don’t think our spending longer term will depend on what we do in the Champions League,” Benitez said. “My meetings with the Americans – and we have talked about everything – has been about the plan we have. If we win more games it will be easier with more money, but the plan does not depend on this competition.
“The owners are very supportive. When you prepare a plan for a club it is not for one year, it is for a number of years. We have brought in new players and re-signed players as part of that plan. We have not talked about money but ideas and I think they are pleased with my ideas.
” Despite that backing, Benitez knows life will be easier if his team turn around their Champions League form and take the maximum points they seek from their remaining fixtures, starting with the Group A match with Besiktas on Tuesday.
Injuries deny him some of his better players, including Fernando Torres, but the Spaniard’s loss could be Peter Crouch’s gain. The Englishman, frustrated at his limited opportunities this season, could have an important role to play in Liverpool’s salvage job.
Benitez said: “All the players who are not playing regularly need to show that they want to play. When you’re in a top side and you are a winner you must show that mentality. Crouch is one of these players. “It’s important for us to win on Tuesday but sometimes the problem is that you set high standards, as we have done in the Champions League.
“We have confidence we can beat Besiktas and then progress. But this is the Champions League and you cannot be surprised we are in the position we are in.”
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