Monday, April 19, 2010

No Extra Pressure For Rafa


Rafa Benitez has insisted there is no additional pressure to do well after it emerged this week that Liverpool are looking for a new buyer.

The Reds have made it through to the semi-finals of the Europa League and are also battling for fourth place in the Premier League.

Benitez is determined to win every remaining game of the campaign to lift a continental trophy and hopefully secure UEFA Champions League qualification.

But he is unfazed by the announcement on Friday that co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have put the club up for sale.

"Everyone knows Liverpool are a top side and one bad season is not going to be changed by winning one or two games at the end," said Benitez.

"Clearly the Europa League will bring some silverware but in terms of the value of the club it is massive so we don't need to think about one or two games.

"Always in football things can change in one week but we have to win our games.

"For us it is not difficult to concentrate on our job, it is just to win four games, get 12 points and see what happens.

"I think we deserved to win against Fulham but we couldn't so we have to make sure we do it against West Ham and in the other games."

Liverpool take on the Hammers at Anfield on Monday, still eight points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham with time fast running out.

There are just four games left in the Premier League but Benitez will not give up on his Champions League dream until it is mathematically impossible.

He has promised to focus solely on the clash with Gianfranco Zola's struggling West Ham before looking ahead to the Europa League semi-final three days later.

"As a manager you have to train and prepare the players properly and that is my job now," he said.

"For me it is very clear and very simple: first West Ham and then Atletico Madrid.

"A top side like Liverpool is always thinking about winning trophies. It is not the best season but hopefully we can improve until the end."

No comments: