Source: Liverpool_Echo
Rafa Benitez: Europa League can be silver lining to Liverpool FC's season
Rafa Benitez 300[LNB]RAFA BENITEZ has promised Liverpool will go all-out to put a silver lining on their season by winning the Europa League.[LNB]Though Benitez had designs on leading the Reds to the Champions League final in Madrid, a wretched sequence of results in the group stages has meant he has had to switch his sights to Hamburg next May.[LNB]If Liverpool are to get there, they must first overcome Unirea Urziceni in the round of 32; if successful in that tie, they will then face either Lille or crack Turkish side Fenerbahce in the last 16.[LNB]Benitez, of course, has more immediate priorities namely reviving Liverpools domestic campaign and an FA Cup tie with Reading before his attentions to turn to dealing with the Romanian champions.[LNB]But given he has not brought a piece of silverware back to Anfield since 2006, Benitez is determined to rectify that situation in the New Year and has made it clear Liverpool will take the Europa League seriously.[LNB]Unirea won the league in Romania and they are certainly a good team. We have to progress as far as we can and its an opportunity for us to win a trophy, which we will try and take, said Benitez, whose side face a lunchtime kick-off at Portsmouth today.[LNB]I have some friends in Seville (who were in Unireas Champions League group) and maybe I will be in contact with them.[LNB]They also had Stuttgart in their group and maybe they could have qualified (for the Champions League knockout stages). We know that it is going to be tough.[LNB]But the Europa League does not resume until February and first of all, we have to concentrate on Portsmouth.[LNB]
