Rafael Benitez believes he does not get the recognition he deserves for his Champions League record at Liverpool.
The Anfield manager will aim to lead his side into a fourth quarter-final appearance in five years when they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their first knockout round tie this evening.
Liverpool hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg after securing a famous win at the Bernabeu a fortnight ago.
Since Benitez assumed control in the summer of 2004, the Anfield outfit won the European Cup the following year, were runners-up in 2007 and reached the semi-finals last year.
The Spaniard has come in for fierce criticism for his failure to end Liverpool’s long wait for a domestic championship, with this season’s hopes having faltered following a poor run of form since the turn of the year.
However, Benitez was on the offensive yesterday and when asked if his record in Europe was being taken for granted, the Spaniard said: “The messages are not the best in terms of this. The success we have had in Europe is not easy. It’s meant a lot of credit for the players, a lot of memories and a lot of money for the club.
“We are doing very well in Europe and thanks to this we can improve the squad and improve everything a little bit.
He added: “Maybe people do not realise how difficult it is to do well in the Champions League. Before an important game is not the best time to talk about these things. But money is the big difference between us and Manchester United and Chelsea.
“We have to reduce that gap by doing well in the Champions League every year.”
Liverpool’s first-leg win sent them top for the first time since 1985 of Uefa’s ranking system, which awards points for matches won and quality of opposition over the last five years.
And Benitez added: “For me and the club, it’s important that we are the best club in Europe over the last five years. It shows we have been doing a lot of good things in the Champions League and it gives us satisfaction.
“We are now again at the latter stages of the competition and that shows that we are clearly the best team in the Champions League over this period and we deserve to be there because of how we have progressed.
“We are clearly one of the best teams in Europe in terms of our mentality. We wouldn’t do as well as we have in the Champions League if we didn’t have that. We know we can beat anyone if we play well.”
Liverpool have won just two of 12 competitive games at home to Spanish opposition, although they have emerged triumphant in six of seven two-legged ties against teams from Spain.
Asked about a negative Liverpool performance in the Bernabeu, Benitez said: “I’m really happy about this, really happy because we won doing a very, very good job. We have to progress and play as well as possible. We have to play well and win but the order is to win and to play well if it’s possible.”
Tonight’s game is the first of a trio of games that will shape the remainder of Liverpool’s season.
Benitez’s men visit Old Trafford on Saturday for a must-win Premier League clash against Manchester United before entertaining Aston Villa the following week.
The Anfield manager will aim to lead his side into a fourth quarter-final appearance in five years when they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their first knockout round tie this evening.
Liverpool hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg after securing a famous win at the Bernabeu a fortnight ago.
Since Benitez assumed control in the summer of 2004, the Anfield outfit won the European Cup the following year, were runners-up in 2007 and reached the semi-finals last year.
The Spaniard has come in for fierce criticism for his failure to end Liverpool’s long wait for a domestic championship, with this season’s hopes having faltered following a poor run of form since the turn of the year.
However, Benitez was on the offensive yesterday and when asked if his record in Europe was being taken for granted, the Spaniard said: “The messages are not the best in terms of this. The success we have had in Europe is not easy. It’s meant a lot of credit for the players, a lot of memories and a lot of money for the club.
“We are doing very well in Europe and thanks to this we can improve the squad and improve everything a little bit.
He added: “Maybe people do not realise how difficult it is to do well in the Champions League. Before an important game is not the best time to talk about these things. But money is the big difference between us and Manchester United and Chelsea.
“We have to reduce that gap by doing well in the Champions League every year.”
Liverpool’s first-leg win sent them top for the first time since 1985 of Uefa’s ranking system, which awards points for matches won and quality of opposition over the last five years.
And Benitez added: “For me and the club, it’s important that we are the best club in Europe over the last five years. It shows we have been doing a lot of good things in the Champions League and it gives us satisfaction.
“We are now again at the latter stages of the competition and that shows that we are clearly the best team in the Champions League over this period and we deserve to be there because of how we have progressed.
“We are clearly one of the best teams in Europe in terms of our mentality. We wouldn’t do as well as we have in the Champions League if we didn’t have that. We know we can beat anyone if we play well.”
Liverpool have won just two of 12 competitive games at home to Spanish opposition, although they have emerged triumphant in six of seven two-legged ties against teams from Spain.
Asked about a negative Liverpool performance in the Bernabeu, Benitez said: “I’m really happy about this, really happy because we won doing a very, very good job. We have to progress and play as well as possible. We have to play well and win but the order is to win and to play well if it’s possible.”
Tonight’s game is the first of a trio of games that will shape the remainder of Liverpool’s season.
Benitez’s men visit Old Trafford on Saturday for a must-win Premier League clash against Manchester United before entertaining Aston Villa the following week.
No comments:
Post a Comment