Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC manager Rafael Benitez derides Premier League play-off proposal
EUROPEAN football returns to the agenda this evening but it will be far cry from the brand to which Anfield has become accustomed.[LNB]In recent seasons, February was the month that brought Champions League tussles against Inter and Barcelona, Real Madrid and Benfica; with respect, tonight's opponents - Unirea Urziceni - simply don't carry the same box office draw.[LNB]Still, this is a competition that Rafa Benitez is intent on winning and he will play a strong side as Liverpool aim to wrap up their round of 32 tie against the Romanians to avoid a potentially problematic trip to Bucharest next week.[LNB]The main aim for the remainder of the campaign, however, is ensuring Liverpool secure a top four finish to set up the prospect of facing those famous names in the biggest and most lucrative competition of all once more.[LNB]How, though, would Benitez feel if fourth place no longer guaranteed a Champions League spot?[LNB]Talk in recent days, after all, has been of the Premier League introducing a play-off to win that final golden ticket.[LNB]Like many of the Premier League's ideas in recent seasons, such as the 39th game, it has caused a huge stir and divided opinion; some think it would liven things up - the majority of others believe it to be nothing other than bunkum.[LNB]Benitez, not surprisingly, is among the latter group but his reasoning has little to do with Liverpool potentially being vulnerable to being elbowed out of fourth spot in added time by a side that has finished a distance behind them.[LNB]His biggest irk centres around one basic observation, one that seems to have been overlooked by Richard Scudamore and his cronies; where, within a fixture calendar that is already fit to burst, would these games be played?[LNB]'I've read some comments from different managers and I have to agree with David Moyes,' said Benitez.[LNB]'He used Tottenham as an example. What happens if they finish fourth but then have to play against a team that finishes seventh?[LNB]'They could have had a fantastic season but then face someone who was maybe 20 points behind. What does it mean? It is trying to keep the competition alive. But then you would have to play three, four, maybe five more matches.[LNB]'When do you have the time? At the end of the season, there is a lot of international football and the players go with their national teams. So how can you play these games? What does it mean for the team that finishes fourth?'[LNB]Clearly, it is a flawed idea and Benitez is particularly withering about it; again, however, finance is the motivating factor and the well-being of players would appear low on the Premier League's priority list.
