As Rafael Benitez glances beyond the dug-out at the Emirates Stadium this evening, he could be forgiven an envious look towards his opposite number.
Arsene Wenger has enjoyed immense success at Arsenal and his achievements in the Premier League will always command the respect and admiration of the Liverpool manager.
Yet Benitez believes that Wenger has had what he so far has not had at Anfield - the patient backing and indulgence of his paymasters as they buy completely into his vision for the club.
The Arsenal manager's vision is well documented. He spends less than the other big three in English football, but invests still significant amounts of money wisely in young talent that is the lifeblood - and the future - of the club.
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Benitez believes such a model must be the way forward for Liverpool. But privately he will argue that he has never enjoyed complete faith in his own similar vision, and has come under pressure to deliver when the odds are stacked against him.
The Liverpool manager has spent big money in his four years on Merseyside, but still nowhere near as much as either Chelsea or Manchester United, and only a little more than Arsenal.
Yet he has delivered two regal processions into the Champions League Final, winning the trophy in 2005, and he has also won the FA Cup. Add to that qualification every year so far for the Champions League and the Spanish coach has cause to believe he is doing his job.
Yet the pressure is there to do better, particularly in the league. Indeed, this season he seemed odds on to be sacked by the end of the campaign.
Another impressive European run has diverted that threat for the moment but yesterday Benitez expressed his vision for Liverpool and quietly warned his bosses that if there is ever going to be success at the club, then it is time to back his blueprint implicitly... just as Arsenal's do Wenger.
"You need a long-term vision if you want style and a winning team, and you have to be patient and back that vision if you are ever going to achieve success," he explained. "If you look at Arsenal, then they are clear in what they want to achieve and the vision has been set out for a very long time.
"Arsene Wenger has done a fabulous job, he is fantastic and I have great respect for him and his style.
"But he has been allowed to develop that style over a long period of time, and that is the key. If you want to progress you have to identify a vision and then back it. You have to be patient and believe in the long-term success of that vision."
The four years that Benitez has spent at Anfield has been a curious period for the Spaniard, with pressure almost a constant factor. Yet he believes that with the financial dominance of Chelsea and Manchester United in English football, the key to success for a less wealthy club like his own must lie in long-term planning, and faith in the right man at the helm to eventually deliver.
"In the Premier League there are three ways of winning things, which depend on the amount of money you have available," explained Benitez.
"You can go the Chelsea route and spend a massive amount of money in a short space of time, which gives you an edge. Or do what Manchester United do, which is spend a lot of money over time, and if that doesn't work, go again and spend more.
"Then there is the Arsenal way, which is to spend money, yes, but invest in the future. To have a vision and to clearly support that vision, even if it doesn't deliver success immediately.
"At this time, Arsenal's model is the best idea for us. We can not compete with the other two, so we have to progress slowly, and we have to put in place with the youth teams and reserves the right things for the future.
"I respect what Wenger has done, and his style is clearer than ours because he has had more time. But there were times - are times - when he cannot win, and then you need faith. That is what we need too.
"When I came we had won nothing for two years and were struggling to qualify for the Champions League. We had to change things and we had to start from a low position.
"We have spent money but the others have spent more. And yet we have closed the gap. We have also got to the Champions League Final and won it after 21 years without winning it.
"People don't say anything about that though, they just say it is 18 years since we won the league. But our idea is to ignore that pressure, that criticism, stay calm and keep going forward."
You need a long-term vision if you want style and a winning team, and be patient to achieve success.
Manchester United have spent a lot of money over time, and if that doesn't work they spend more.
Our idea is to ignore pressure and criticism, stay calm and keep going forward.
Wenger has been allowed to develop his style over a long period and that is the key.
Arsene Wenger has enjoyed immense success at Arsenal and his achievements in the Premier League will always command the respect and admiration of the Liverpool manager.
Yet Benitez believes that Wenger has had what he so far has not had at Anfield - the patient backing and indulgence of his paymasters as they buy completely into his vision for the club.
The Arsenal manager's vision is well documented. He spends less than the other big three in English football, but invests still significant amounts of money wisely in young talent that is the lifeblood - and the future - of the club.
Advertisement
Benitez believes such a model must be the way forward for Liverpool. But privately he will argue that he has never enjoyed complete faith in his own similar vision, and has come under pressure to deliver when the odds are stacked against him.
The Liverpool manager has spent big money in his four years on Merseyside, but still nowhere near as much as either Chelsea or Manchester United, and only a little more than Arsenal.
Yet he has delivered two regal processions into the Champions League Final, winning the trophy in 2005, and he has also won the FA Cup. Add to that qualification every year so far for the Champions League and the Spanish coach has cause to believe he is doing his job.
Yet the pressure is there to do better, particularly in the league. Indeed, this season he seemed odds on to be sacked by the end of the campaign.
Another impressive European run has diverted that threat for the moment but yesterday Benitez expressed his vision for Liverpool and quietly warned his bosses that if there is ever going to be success at the club, then it is time to back his blueprint implicitly... just as Arsenal's do Wenger.
"You need a long-term vision if you want style and a winning team, and you have to be patient and back that vision if you are ever going to achieve success," he explained. "If you look at Arsenal, then they are clear in what they want to achieve and the vision has been set out for a very long time.
"Arsene Wenger has done a fabulous job, he is fantastic and I have great respect for him and his style.
"But he has been allowed to develop that style over a long period of time, and that is the key. If you want to progress you have to identify a vision and then back it. You have to be patient and believe in the long-term success of that vision."
The four years that Benitez has spent at Anfield has been a curious period for the Spaniard, with pressure almost a constant factor. Yet he believes that with the financial dominance of Chelsea and Manchester United in English football, the key to success for a less wealthy club like his own must lie in long-term planning, and faith in the right man at the helm to eventually deliver.
"In the Premier League there are three ways of winning things, which depend on the amount of money you have available," explained Benitez.
"You can go the Chelsea route and spend a massive amount of money in a short space of time, which gives you an edge. Or do what Manchester United do, which is spend a lot of money over time, and if that doesn't work, go again and spend more.
"Then there is the Arsenal way, which is to spend money, yes, but invest in the future. To have a vision and to clearly support that vision, even if it doesn't deliver success immediately.
"At this time, Arsenal's model is the best idea for us. We can not compete with the other two, so we have to progress slowly, and we have to put in place with the youth teams and reserves the right things for the future.
"I respect what Wenger has done, and his style is clearer than ours because he has had more time. But there were times - are times - when he cannot win, and then you need faith. That is what we need too.
"When I came we had won nothing for two years and were struggling to qualify for the Champions League. We had to change things and we had to start from a low position.
"We have spent money but the others have spent more. And yet we have closed the gap. We have also got to the Champions League Final and won it after 21 years without winning it.
"People don't say anything about that though, they just say it is 18 years since we won the league. But our idea is to ignore that pressure, that criticism, stay calm and keep going forward."
You need a long-term vision if you want style and a winning team, and be patient to achieve success.
Manchester United have spent a lot of money over time, and if that doesn't work they spend more.
Our idea is to ignore pressure and criticism, stay calm and keep going forward.
Wenger has been allowed to develop his style over a long period and that is the key.
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