The FA CUP e-on Fifth round: Liverpool v Barnsley, today, kick-off 3pm GMT Flop against Tykes & Inter and the pressure will mount on Benitez.
Rafa Benitez has urged his Liverpool players to turn the spotlight at Anfield back on to the pitch by winning.
The endless speculation about Benitez's position and the club's ownership is turning into a longer-running soap opera on Merseyside than Brookside.
Some fans plan a protest march to the ground today as part of their campaign to force out US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Liverpool could do without all these distractions going into the games against Barnsley and Inter Milan over the next four days which will decide their season and Benitez's future as manager.
The Spaniard is trying to remain calm as he counts down to these make-or-break 79 hours and believes his players can take some of the heat out of the situation by getting results.
"It would always be better if we didn't have all this speculation, but the only way we can help that situation is by winning games," said Benitez.
"Then people will talk about goals and wins and things like that. If we start winning games, it will be easier for everyone.
"Everything comes down to the performance of the team. It's a circle. If you play well you can win games, people will talk about football, you will have more confidence, you can win more and that in turn helps the financial situation."
That is easier said than done for Benitez's spluttering side who have already been embarrassed by Luton and non-league minnows Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Cup.
The Hatters forced a replay and Blue Square South outfit Havant twice led at Anfield before Liverpool roused themselves to win.
Defeat in the fifth round today at home to a Barnsley side with just two wins away all season and featuring on-loan Luke Steele - third choice goalkeeper at West Brom - is unthinkable.
Benitez is well aware of that possibility, having been on the end of a humiliating cup shock by Alicante when in charge at Valencia and hopes his players have learned not to be overconfident.
"It's always difficult when you play against a team from a lower division," he said. "You have to warn against complacency and tell your players to be careful.
"But if they score first, you will play with more anxiety and you are nervous. That's what can happen.
"In these type of games, you don't have anything to gain. People expect you to win. But if you play well and score goals that can be a positive."
Benitez has seized on any little plus point and he pointed to Liverpool's decent goalless draw at Chelsea as a sign the team was improving.
He also said the players had been sharp in training this week and that Fernando Torres was close to returning from his hamstring injury.
But the Spaniard knows what really matters to the fans is what happens at 3pm.
Another poor result would push Benitez further towards the exit and he said: "We've been trying to work out why we've been so inconsistent.
"In the last two games against Sunderland and Chelsea, I think we have done well and deserved to win and score goals. But we'll know more in five days' time whether we have turned a corner or not.
"We're ready for these challenges. People are talking about Inter, but we've got Barnsley first and the FA Cup is an opportunity to bring some silverware to the club.
"The Champions League will be more difficult. But we have a chance in both competitions, and we will try to take it. We know how important these two games are to our season and we don't want to disappoint anyone."
Rafa Benitez has urged his Liverpool players to turn the spotlight at Anfield back on to the pitch by winning.
The endless speculation about Benitez's position and the club's ownership is turning into a longer-running soap opera on Merseyside than Brookside.
Some fans plan a protest march to the ground today as part of their campaign to force out US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Liverpool could do without all these distractions going into the games against Barnsley and Inter Milan over the next four days which will decide their season and Benitez's future as manager.
The Spaniard is trying to remain calm as he counts down to these make-or-break 79 hours and believes his players can take some of the heat out of the situation by getting results.
"It would always be better if we didn't have all this speculation, but the only way we can help that situation is by winning games," said Benitez.
"Then people will talk about goals and wins and things like that. If we start winning games, it will be easier for everyone.
"Everything comes down to the performance of the team. It's a circle. If you play well you can win games, people will talk about football, you will have more confidence, you can win more and that in turn helps the financial situation."
That is easier said than done for Benitez's spluttering side who have already been embarrassed by Luton and non-league minnows Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Cup.
The Hatters forced a replay and Blue Square South outfit Havant twice led at Anfield before Liverpool roused themselves to win.
Defeat in the fifth round today at home to a Barnsley side with just two wins away all season and featuring on-loan Luke Steele - third choice goalkeeper at West Brom - is unthinkable.
Benitez is well aware of that possibility, having been on the end of a humiliating cup shock by Alicante when in charge at Valencia and hopes his players have learned not to be overconfident.
"It's always difficult when you play against a team from a lower division," he said. "You have to warn against complacency and tell your players to be careful.
"But if they score first, you will play with more anxiety and you are nervous. That's what can happen.
"In these type of games, you don't have anything to gain. People expect you to win. But if you play well and score goals that can be a positive."
Benitez has seized on any little plus point and he pointed to Liverpool's decent goalless draw at Chelsea as a sign the team was improving.
He also said the players had been sharp in training this week and that Fernando Torres was close to returning from his hamstring injury.
But the Spaniard knows what really matters to the fans is what happens at 3pm.
Another poor result would push Benitez further towards the exit and he said: "We've been trying to work out why we've been so inconsistent.
"In the last two games against Sunderland and Chelsea, I think we have done well and deserved to win and score goals. But we'll know more in five days' time whether we have turned a corner or not.
"We're ready for these challenges. People are talking about Inter, but we've got Barnsley first and the FA Cup is an opportunity to bring some silverware to the club.
"The Champions League will be more difficult. But we have a chance in both competitions, and we will try to take it. We know how important these two games are to our season and we don't want to disappoint anyone."
No comments:
Post a Comment