Source: Team_Talk
Benitez confident of making final
Rafa Benitez is confident Liverpool can win their Europa League semi-final tie at Anfield after a narrow first-leg defeat at Atletico Madrid.[LNB] Liverpool slipped to a 1-0 loss at the Vicente Calderon on Thursday night after Diego Forlan netted the only goal of a tight game in the eighth minute.[LNB]Atletico had opportunities to build a bigger lead, with Jose Reina denying Simao Sabrosa and Tomas Ujfalusi in the second period and Forlan spurning a good chance when one-on-one with the Spain international.[LNB]At the other end, Liverpool found decent goalscoring chances hard to come by, with captain Steven Gerrard firing one of their best openings into the side-netting prior to the break.[LNB]The Reds did, however, have a goal disallowed early on for offside against Yossi Benayoun - a strike Benitez felt should have stood.[LNB]The defeat leaves Liverpool with a hill to climb in next week's second leg at Anfield, but Benitez was in optimistic mood after the game.[LNB]"I have a lot of confidence of playing at Anfield, in our players and in our fans. Today we had a lot of fans behind the team and that was very positive, and at Anfield we will have more of them," said Benitez.[LNB]"It could have been better, it could have been worse and everything will be decided at Anfield where we will go out to fight and have all our supporters behind us."[LNB]Benitez also played down the effect of tiredness after his side were forced to make a long journey to Spain by road and rail after the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud left flights grounded earlier in the week.[LNB]"It was fine," he said. "We were working hard so that was the main thing."[LNB]Liverpool are no strangers to needing European comebacks.[LNB]In the quarter-finals they trailed 2-1 after the first leg against Benfica before claiming a 5-3 aggregate victory, while in the last 16 they also lost the first meeting 1-0 against Lille before going through 3-1.[LNB]"We've been in the same situation before and we've found out we can win, so hopefully it will be the same again," added Benitez.[LNB]"I also think in the past we've been losing 1-0 in games down the years and we were in that final, so that's quite positive.[LNB]"We know that it will be difficult because 1-0 is always a dangerous score, but we are still confident.[LNB]"We've done it in the past and we have to approach the game with this confidence and it would then be easier for us to play better and to score more goals."[LNB]Liverpool were again missing Fernando Torres after he underwent season-ending knee surgery at the weekend.[LNB]As such, the five-time European champions looked short of a cutting edge up front, but having scored three against West Ham on Monday without the Spain ace, Benitez is confident they will still pose a serious goal threat against Atletico next week.[LNB]"I think we proved the other day that we can score goals. It doesn't matter which player, but we have players who can score. Of course we have to push and attack and I'm sure someone will score," he said.[LNB]Benitez was also quizzed about Torres' future following comments from Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, who admitted every club in Europe would be interested in signing the Spaniard if Liverpool were willing to sell.[LNB]Benitez said: "Torres is happy. The thing now is for Torres to be ready as soon as possible.[LNB]"Torres has said from the start that he is very happy at Anfield, so hopefully he will be okay and can score a lot of goals for the club in the future."[LNB]Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores, whose side had lost their previous three games coming into tonight's match, was also in confident mood for the return meeting.[LNB]"It was an intense game, very tiring. A second goal would have completed the match but we can't complain," he said.[LNB]"One-nil is a good result, the dressing room is optimistic but we know the game will be decided in the second leg.[LNB]"We need to play a good second leg as Liverpool will come out strongly."[LNB]When asked if he thought Liverpool's performance was disappointing, Sanchez Flores added: "They probably feel they didn't play a good match but they fought and only lost by a narrow margin.[LNB]"Even in their worst matches they score a six out of 10, they never disappoint."
