Source: Team_Talk
Benitez blasts back at critics
iverpool boss Rafael Benitez has rounded on critics who "don't have a clue" about last week's controversial substitution of Fernando Torres.[LNB] Benitez made the surprising decision to take off his top scorer with 25 minutes remaining at Birmingham on Sunday while the score was locked at 1-1.[LNB]That proved the final score and left Liverpool's hopes of fulfilling Benitez's "guarantee" of a top-four finish in the Premier League looking increasingly unlikely.[LNB]But with the striker troubled by a knee complaint and weary after a draining European tie at Benfica, Benitez is adamant he made the right decision, despite the result.[LNB]"I have been listening to many things," Benitez said. "People don't have a clue when they talk about the substitution or that he cannot be tired.[LNB]"Some people say he cannot be tired because he didn't play too many games. That doesn't matter.[LNB]"We played 60 minutes with 10 men against a very good Benfica team and we had to work very hard.[LNB]"We had (Javier) Mascherano, (Daniel) Agger and Torres really tired and you have to manage them.[LNB]"We wanted to start with Torres because he can make the difference but as soon as we could see he was not making the difference, we needed fresh legs.[LNB]"David Ngog made the difference - we then had six chances in 30 minutes.[LNB]"We can talk about Torres being there or not but Ngog created chances. With Torres we didn't have those chances.[LNB]"The manager, staff and physios working with players have a better idea because they know how he feels and what he has said."[LNB]Torres put his St Andrew's frustration behind him to score twice in Thursday's stunning 4-1 win in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Benfica.[LNB]Liverpool can now look forward to a semi-final against Atletico Madrid later this month in which victory could set up a clash against Fulham, visitors to Anfield in the league on Sunday.[LNB]Fulham secured their place in the last four by beating Wolfsburg and will now play Hamburg for a place in the final.[LNB]After such an exhilarating week for both clubs, Benitez admits there could be a slight drop in intensity on Sunday but he needs his Reds to carry over the momentum to keep their top-five bid alive.[LNB]Benitez said: "It will be an interesting game but we can play with confidence.[LNB]"You always expect after a great win to see the team playing better and scoring goals.[LNB]"The Premier League is different but still we will have confidence and you could see some players playing really well.[LNB]"Hopefully they can play at the same level and we can score more goals."[LNB]Aside from the ever-dangerous Torres, another player to catch the eye on Thursday was the often-derided midfielder Lucas.[LNB]The Brazilian delivered one of his best displays for the club and, as well as scoring the second goal, played a key role in the fourth.[LNB]That earned up a thumbs up signal from Benitez as the players celebrated.[LNB]The manager hopes 23-year-old Lucas will now start to earn some recognition from a wider audience, particularly the armchair supporters who often call phone-ins.[LNB]Benitez said: "It was a great tackle and he was doing really well.[LNB]"When you have a player who has worked so hard, playing well and scoring goals - I was really pleased for him.[LNB]"I think the fans in the stadium can see Lucas running and working hard. They know he is doing a great job.[LNB]"Some people maybe watching on TV, comfortable on their sofas, just pick up the phone and criticise.[LNB]"We are not talking about a player like (Steven) Gerrard or Torres but we are playing an important player for the team."[LNB]Torres is expected to be fit to face Fulham despite more ice treatment on his knee after Benfica and Daniel Agger may continue at left-back in the absence of Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio.
