Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has identified Champions League semi-finalists Borussia Dortmund as a blueprint for the project he has undertaken at Anfield.
The German side reached the last four of Europe's elite competition earlier this week courtesy of a dramatic 3-2 victory over Malaga at the Westfalenstadion - setting up a semi-final with Real Madrid.
Jurgen Klopp's team, which has been founded on talented young stars such as Mario Gotze and Marco Reus, had lifted the Bundesliga championship in each of the previous two seasons too.
It's a success story which has inspired Rodgers. "You can challenge without spending £80m in one summer," he told reporters.
"Look at the example of Borussia Dortmund, a team that won the Champions League and then struggled financially. They went out and rebuilt and it took them four to five years to push on.
"Then they won the league and their European work suffered. This year you can see they have put their focus on Europe and they have lost their title. That's a team that has been growing over five years.
"Unless you have got the Manchester City or Chelsea money and just bring in £70m-£80m worth in one summer to add to a Champions League-winning group, you need a different way.
"I think Dortmund's is the best way because you are not just looking after the team but also the club. Of course, supporters will always look at the team but for me it's bigger than that to have success. It's about all aspects of the club, so that when you do arrive you are in a strong position."
A top-four finish in the Barclays Premier League is likely to elude the Reds this season but the manager expects his team to be better equipped to challenge in 2013-14.
"It is the hardest step of all," he added.
"Chelsea was sixth last year and look at the reinforcements they made to get back to that level again. Then look at Tottenham who were fourth and did not get into the Champions League on a technicality. They spent £50m just to stay in there.
"It's a big ask, that's the reality, but we can really push on next year."
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