Rafael Benítez today shrugged off the growing pressure on his position at Liverpool ahead of Sunday's game against Manchester United at Anfield. Liverpool desperately need a win after four consecutive defeats, and Benítez will give Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson - all groin injury victims - as long as he possibly can to prove their fitness.
The match, though, will be overshadowed by fans' unrest over the team's poor performances and the continued ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. A protest march is being planned and Hicks and Gillett will be the subject of increased security but Benítez said he was not worried about losing his job should the team fail to win on Sunday.
"I am relaxed in terms of my position," he insisted. "I know how we are working every day, the players know, too. In the past we have been very good and the situation and players has not changed too much.
"It is about confidence and winning that first game. If we want to change things we must focus on football and not what is going on off the pitch here."
Benítez has kept his team in for extra training sessions this week, but insisted the players' attitude had been good. "They know the situation. They know what they must do and they will try to do everything we are asking of them.
"I have had great support from Steven [Gerrard]. He is a leader, he wanted to prove something in the week against Lyon, he wanted to play despite the injury problem. That shows the right mentality and what we expect from any player at Liverpool.
"The team is not as bad as people think. We have beaten United without Gerrard and Torres and we know that we can beat anyone. We have total confidence in that.
"When you are not winning, you cannot be too negative with players. When I push the players it is when I know that we can improve and they are already doing well. When we are not doing well we have to analyse carefully and not to push too hard."
Benítez has had support from the former Liverpool player Kenny Dalglish, now the club's ambassador and academy figurehead.
"I have talked with Kenny. We both have experience, but he knows this club and what happens here. He knows that if we work hard then everything will be fine," said Benítez. "Every week everything changes. The pressures from the critics is to be expected. It is part of the game and you have to adapt to the situation.
"But it is results that matter. I understand that, the only way to respond is to do the right things on the pitch.
"Actions change things. It is time for everyone to be positive and it is up to the players to make the difference."
If Liverpool lose on Sunday it will be their worst run since the club was relegated from the old First Division in 1953.
But Benítez maintains a change of fortune is only a win away. "As a manager you know that sometimes there will be good moments and bad moments, and at this time we know that we have to improve. But it is only a matter of time. If we win a game then everything changes.
"This game against Manchester United is just the right opportunity. It is a massive game, the fans will be right behind us from the first minute to the last.
"When people talk about our squad not being strong enough, I maintain that we are better than people think. If we have half a dozen players who are injured, then things will be difficult.
"If you take five players out of United, Chelsea or Arsenal, it will be very difficult for them to win games. The best way to regain confidence and to improve our situation is to beat Manchester United."
The match, though, will be overshadowed by fans' unrest over the team's poor performances and the continued ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. A protest march is being planned and Hicks and Gillett will be the subject of increased security but Benítez said he was not worried about losing his job should the team fail to win on Sunday.
"I am relaxed in terms of my position," he insisted. "I know how we are working every day, the players know, too. In the past we have been very good and the situation and players has not changed too much.
"It is about confidence and winning that first game. If we want to change things we must focus on football and not what is going on off the pitch here."
Benítez has kept his team in for extra training sessions this week, but insisted the players' attitude had been good. "They know the situation. They know what they must do and they will try to do everything we are asking of them.
"I have had great support from Steven [Gerrard]. He is a leader, he wanted to prove something in the week against Lyon, he wanted to play despite the injury problem. That shows the right mentality and what we expect from any player at Liverpool.
"The team is not as bad as people think. We have beaten United without Gerrard and Torres and we know that we can beat anyone. We have total confidence in that.
"When you are not winning, you cannot be too negative with players. When I push the players it is when I know that we can improve and they are already doing well. When we are not doing well we have to analyse carefully and not to push too hard."
Benítez has had support from the former Liverpool player Kenny Dalglish, now the club's ambassador and academy figurehead.
"I have talked with Kenny. We both have experience, but he knows this club and what happens here. He knows that if we work hard then everything will be fine," said Benítez. "Every week everything changes. The pressures from the critics is to be expected. It is part of the game and you have to adapt to the situation.
"But it is results that matter. I understand that, the only way to respond is to do the right things on the pitch.
"Actions change things. It is time for everyone to be positive and it is up to the players to make the difference."
If Liverpool lose on Sunday it will be their worst run since the club was relegated from the old First Division in 1953.
But Benítez maintains a change of fortune is only a win away. "As a manager you know that sometimes there will be good moments and bad moments, and at this time we know that we have to improve. But it is only a matter of time. If we win a game then everything changes.
"This game against Manchester United is just the right opportunity. It is a massive game, the fans will be right behind us from the first minute to the last.
"When people talk about our squad not being strong enough, I maintain that we are better than people think. If we have half a dozen players who are injured, then things will be difficult.
"If you take five players out of United, Chelsea or Arsenal, it will be very difficult for them to win games. The best way to regain confidence and to improve our situation is to beat Manchester United."
No comments:
Post a Comment