Source: Team_Talk
McLeish: Benitez will be in demand
irmingham boss Alex McLeish says Rafael Benitez will not be short of offers if he leaves Liverpool at the end of the season.[LNB] The Spaniard's days in charge of the Reds could be numbered ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Blues at St Andrew's.[LNB]Liverpool are struggling to live up to Benitez's claims they will qualify for a Champions League spot.[LNB]And on Thursday night they suffered a 2-1 defeat in their Europa League quarter-final, first leg clash away to Benfica after Ryan Babel - a target for McLeish in January - was sent off.[LNB]But McLeish believes Benitez is starting to turn around Liverpool's fortunes and, even if he does leave, the Spaniard will have plenty of interest from would-be employers.[LNB]McLeish said: "He has been around. He is an experienced manager. He has managed Valencia at the top level. They had fantastic times under Benitez.[LNB]"Now he is at a top club at Liverpool and been there a few years and, if he is not mentally tough, then I would be very surprised.[LNB]"He is under pressure but we are all under pressure. I am under pressure in a different way.[LNB]"Rafa has got to deal with that but, for a man of his calibre and managerial credentials, if it doesn't work out for him at Liverpool then there won't be a shortage of clubs looking to employ his services.[LNB]"But it looks like he has got Liverpool back to winning ways although hopefully we can put a spoke in their wheels and make sure they don't win here.[LNB]McLeish has challenged his Birmingham players to show they are not "one-season wonders" ahead of the Reds encounter.[LNB]Blues have exceeded all expectations in holding down a top 10 spot going into the final six games of the campaign when pundits and bookmakers were predicting an instant return to the Championship.[LNB]But McLeish knows the acid test will come during 2010-2011 in ensuring City build on their current success and already he can see teams adopting a different tactical approach to try and combat Birmingham's strengths.[LNB]He said: "It will be a big challenge for us, the second season, a huge challenge, and my message to the players when they come back for pre-season training is 'do it again.'[LNB]"You've got to do it again, you can't just be a one-season wonder and then fade into obscurity.[LNB]"That is my challenge to all the players and I think they've got the mentality in the dressing room to be thinking that way as well.[LNB]"It is a credit to them, that teams are now thinking differently tactically against us."[LNB]McLeish also believes Birmingham's ability to recover from being one or even two goals behind has given them belief and confidence.[LNB]They are also unbeaten at St Andrew's since the reversal against Bolton in late September and drew with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in front of their own fans.[LNB]McLeish said: "It is in the locker, they've proved it, the evidence is there. They've kept coming back. It is not as though they are thinking, 'We've never been here, this is a new experience for us.'[LNB]"They've done it time and time again, not only at St Andrew's but away from home as well.[LNB]"But credit to the players and their ability to come back in games from a setback and it just shows the determination and will of the players."[LNB]McLeish expects to have a full squad to choose from on Sunday and has no fresh injury worries. The former Scotland boss said: "We have a couple of little niggles but we think everyone will make it."[LNB]Skipper Stephen Carr has picked up nine yellow cards this season and one more against Liverpool or Manchester City before a Football Association amnesty takes effect will result in a two-game suspension..
