Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Reina: Benitez Driven On By Desperation To Win Premier League


Pepe Reina has revealed Rafa Benitez's desperation to end Liverpool's title drought as he admitted the Reds boss will do everything to bring the championship back to Anfield.

Despite an early-season wobble and a raft of injuries, Liverpool are just six points adrift of top spot with a game in hand over Manchester United.

And while the Spain keeper knows how much it would mean to the Kop to hail the best team in England for the first time in nearly two decades, he maintains Benitez wants it even more.

Reina, who has kept 10 clean sheets in 17 starts this season, told the Daily Mirror: "I know Rafa well and he will break his own head to find a solution to get the title for Liverpool.

"He has the experience of three seasons in England now and knows more of what is required.

"We are all aware of how desperate the fans are to win the championship.

After 18 years without doing so, for a club like Liverpool, that's only normal.

"We all wish to give them that chance to celebrate the title after so long. It's our biggest target for the season.

"Rafa has been successful in the last few years and shown at Liverpool how he can pick teams, change formations and win knock-out games.

"Look at how we've done in the Champions League, winning the FA Cup and getting to the Carling Cup Final as well. It's not easy to win a European Cup in your first season at a club and Rafa did that.

"That will serve him well in the future. He is someone who will always keep learning how English football is and learn from his 'mistakes' - if that's what you want to call them.

"But I wouldn't call them mistakes, because he doesn't make many at all. He is a really seasoned manager, who is always looking for the right solutions, and he will find them."

Reina, 25, insisted he is part of a Liverpool squad that has got what it takes to overhaul United, Arsenal and Chelsea and see Merseyside football back in control.

"People talk about prioritising, about maybe giving up the Champions League for the Premier League, and that's always difficult for a club like Liverpool to do," he added at the Paris launch of the new adidas Predator PowerSwerve boot.

"But if you were to say to me today - 'if you give up the Champions League you WILL win the title', then I'd say 'all right, let's do it now!'"

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