Fernando Torres last night hailed Liverpool's famous rout of Real Madrid as a tactical triumph for manager Rafael Benitez.
And the Liverpool striker believes that the Spanish coach can repeat his Champions League success when he goes head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ferguson is the most decorated coach in domestic football history, but Benitez has few peers in European football in recent years.
Despite his Champions League record with Liverpool and his Uefa Cup success at Valencia, however, Benitez had been criticised by the Spanish press in the build up to Wednesday's knockout round second leg with Real Madrid, for producing functional football teams.
But Liverpool ravaged Real's reputation with a compelling display of attacking football which handed out Madrid's biggest European defeat for 20 years.
Torres explained that their Spanish coach sent out his team supremely prepared.
“I think we prepared for the game better than them.
“The boss was brilliant in explaining how to play against them,” he explained.
“The plan before the game was to play with intensity and with a high-tempo. Spanish football has quality but it is slower, so we knew it would be difficult for them if we played with intensity.
“I am very proud. I am proud of the performance of the team and the performance of the fans. We knew the atmosphere would be amazing but it was even better than we thought.
“This was a big night for Liverpool and for English football as well.
“We showed Real Madrid that this is Anfield and that Liverpool can win against any team here. It was a fantastic performance. After the first goal they knew it would be difficult because they had to score two. The penalty finished the game.”
Liverpool came flying out of the traps and were two goals up inside 27 minutes, effectively ending the tie.
Torres and skipper Steven Gerrard combined to establish the unassailable position and Torres added: “Stevie made me the happiest player in the world on the night and got some more goals – I think he is the Champions League's top scorer now.
“We want to stop our injuries now for Liverpool and for us.
“We have to wait for the draw, but we have confidence now for the Champions League, and also for Saturday against United.”
With Liverpool enjoying a 24-hour advantage over United in preparation time for Saturday's Old Trafford showdown, Torres believes the Reds can repeat their performance levels against their title rivals.
“That is a massive game,” he added. “I hope to win that and have more chances in the league. We know it's very important to win there – if not they will be many points ahead.”
On his own fitness, Torres added: “I feel good. My ankle felt a little bit painful in the second half but that doesn't matter in a match like this. We will work hard from Wednesday morning and I think I will be 100% for Saturday.”
Benitez, who has only beaten Manchester United twice, echoed his striker’s confidence.
The Liverpool boss said: “We have an important game next, but we have played well here, scored four goals and are very confident. That is the best way to prepare for such a game.
“It was important for us to play that well, but we are now facing a very good team and we must win to close the gap at the top. We have a few days to enjoy this result and make sure we are positive and prepared properly for the game at Old Trafford.”
Gerrard scored twice in his 100th European game for the club with Fernando Torres and Andrea Dossena completing the crushing victory.
And Benitez was able to hit back at the critics who have branded him a defensive coach, particularly in his Spanish homeland.
He said: “Yes, I know people in Spain think that my teams do not attack, but look at this result and look at the 119 goals we scored last season. That says something different.
“We are ranked the number one club in Europe by Uefa over the last five years and a result like this against a great club like Real Madrid is very pleasing.”
He added: “We played really well from beginning to the end, and I am really pleased for the fans.
“Why are we so good in Europe? I can only say that we approach European games with confidence and in the right way.”
Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos was deflated by the crushing defeat.
He said: “We are very disappointed and it is sad that we are out and we are obviously not happy with the result.
“We conceded two early goals, and I had my doubts about both. There looked to be a foul for the first and the penalty was not clear at all.
“But Liverpool were excellent and deserved to go through. They were too good on the night, and there is no point in denying that they deserved to go through.”
Ramos, on a short-term contract as manager of Real, was questioned over the likelihood of that deal being extended after such a humiliation.
“Personal issues will be discussed at the end of the season, they are not for now as far as my future is concerned,” he said. “We must concentrate on the league now, we must make a huge effort to catch Barcelona now to restore some pride to the season.”
And the Liverpool striker believes that the Spanish coach can repeat his Champions League success when he goes head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ferguson is the most decorated coach in domestic football history, but Benitez has few peers in European football in recent years.
Despite his Champions League record with Liverpool and his Uefa Cup success at Valencia, however, Benitez had been criticised by the Spanish press in the build up to Wednesday's knockout round second leg with Real Madrid, for producing functional football teams.
But Liverpool ravaged Real's reputation with a compelling display of attacking football which handed out Madrid's biggest European defeat for 20 years.
Torres explained that their Spanish coach sent out his team supremely prepared.
“I think we prepared for the game better than them.
“The boss was brilliant in explaining how to play against them,” he explained.
“The plan before the game was to play with intensity and with a high-tempo. Spanish football has quality but it is slower, so we knew it would be difficult for them if we played with intensity.
“I am very proud. I am proud of the performance of the team and the performance of the fans. We knew the atmosphere would be amazing but it was even better than we thought.
“This was a big night for Liverpool and for English football as well.
“We showed Real Madrid that this is Anfield and that Liverpool can win against any team here. It was a fantastic performance. After the first goal they knew it would be difficult because they had to score two. The penalty finished the game.”
Liverpool came flying out of the traps and were two goals up inside 27 minutes, effectively ending the tie.
Torres and skipper Steven Gerrard combined to establish the unassailable position and Torres added: “Stevie made me the happiest player in the world on the night and got some more goals – I think he is the Champions League's top scorer now.
“We want to stop our injuries now for Liverpool and for us.
“We have to wait for the draw, but we have confidence now for the Champions League, and also for Saturday against United.”
With Liverpool enjoying a 24-hour advantage over United in preparation time for Saturday's Old Trafford showdown, Torres believes the Reds can repeat their performance levels against their title rivals.
“That is a massive game,” he added. “I hope to win that and have more chances in the league. We know it's very important to win there – if not they will be many points ahead.”
On his own fitness, Torres added: “I feel good. My ankle felt a little bit painful in the second half but that doesn't matter in a match like this. We will work hard from Wednesday morning and I think I will be 100% for Saturday.”
Benitez, who has only beaten Manchester United twice, echoed his striker’s confidence.
The Liverpool boss said: “We have an important game next, but we have played well here, scored four goals and are very confident. That is the best way to prepare for such a game.
“It was important for us to play that well, but we are now facing a very good team and we must win to close the gap at the top. We have a few days to enjoy this result and make sure we are positive and prepared properly for the game at Old Trafford.”
Gerrard scored twice in his 100th European game for the club with Fernando Torres and Andrea Dossena completing the crushing victory.
And Benitez was able to hit back at the critics who have branded him a defensive coach, particularly in his Spanish homeland.
He said: “Yes, I know people in Spain think that my teams do not attack, but look at this result and look at the 119 goals we scored last season. That says something different.
“We are ranked the number one club in Europe by Uefa over the last five years and a result like this against a great club like Real Madrid is very pleasing.”
He added: “We played really well from beginning to the end, and I am really pleased for the fans.
“Why are we so good in Europe? I can only say that we approach European games with confidence and in the right way.”
Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos was deflated by the crushing defeat.
He said: “We are very disappointed and it is sad that we are out and we are obviously not happy with the result.
“We conceded two early goals, and I had my doubts about both. There looked to be a foul for the first and the penalty was not clear at all.
“But Liverpool were excellent and deserved to go through. They were too good on the night, and there is no point in denying that they deserved to go through.”
Ramos, on a short-term contract as manager of Real, was questioned over the likelihood of that deal being extended after such a humiliation.
“Personal issues will be discussed at the end of the season, they are not for now as far as my future is concerned,” he said. “We must concentrate on the league now, we must make a huge effort to catch Barcelona now to restore some pride to the season.”
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