The Liverpool boss wants his men to focus on the Premier League for the moment, and let the Champions League take care of itself.
Liverpool seem to have made domestic success their priority this season, with the ending of a 19-year wait for an English league title their main target rather than winning another Champions League.
Manager Rafa Benitez has today given weight to that supposition by urging his men to forget about next week's Champions League opponents Real Madrid for the moment, and keep their focus on the weekend's Premier League adversaries, Manchester City.
"The main thing for us right now is the game against Manchester City – that is very clear," Benitez told The Liverpool Echo today.
"This game has to be the priority because it is in the Premier League and we are in a good position and want to take three points.
"We have three days after we have played City in which we can look forward to Madrid but for now our focus must only be on the league."
Many of Benitez's squad were away on international duty last week, and the Spaniard feels that, coupled with a weekend of inactivity due to their recent elimination from the FA Cup by city rivals Everton, may have freshened them up a little, as they move into a crucial phase of the season.
"It was important for us that in our last game before the break we managed to get a win against Portsmouth because it is always good to produce a positive result in such situations," the coach added.
"Some of the players have been away with their countries since then and we have also had some time off with the break so this should mean that they will return with more energy.
"We are in a good position and our confidence is high, now we must look to build on what we have done."
Liverpool seem to have made domestic success their priority this season, with the ending of a 19-year wait for an English league title their main target rather than winning another Champions League.
Manager Rafa Benitez has today given weight to that supposition by urging his men to forget about next week's Champions League opponents Real Madrid for the moment, and keep their focus on the weekend's Premier League adversaries, Manchester City.
"The main thing for us right now is the game against Manchester City – that is very clear," Benitez told The Liverpool Echo today.
"This game has to be the priority because it is in the Premier League and we are in a good position and want to take three points.
"We have three days after we have played City in which we can look forward to Madrid but for now our focus must only be on the league."
Many of Benitez's squad were away on international duty last week, and the Spaniard feels that, coupled with a weekend of inactivity due to their recent elimination from the FA Cup by city rivals Everton, may have freshened them up a little, as they move into a crucial phase of the season.
"It was important for us that in our last game before the break we managed to get a win against Portsmouth because it is always good to produce a positive result in such situations," the coach added.
"Some of the players have been away with their countries since then and we have also had some time off with the break so this should mean that they will return with more energy.
"We are in a good position and our confidence is high, now we must look to build on what we have done."
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