Source: Telegraph
Rafa Benitez hails Liverpool victory as perfect preparation for Manchester United showdown
Fernando Torres tapped in the opener, Steven Gerrard scored twice and substitute Andrea Dossena rounded off a memorable night at Anfield to send Liverpool into their fourth quarter-final in five years and condemn a humiliated Madrid to their heaviest Champions League defeat. [LNB]Liverpool's domination was total, their control complete and they dispatched the most famous name in European football with contemptuous ease. For Benitez, it was proof of why Liverpool now command so much respect on the European stage and why their Old Trafford appointment in the Premier League's last chance saloon should hold no fears. [LNB] Related ArticlesLiverpool 4 Real Madrid 0: Agg: 5-0[LNB]The Bung: Was that a smile, Rafa?[LNB]Liverpool v Real: Man marking[LNB]Papers: Rafa gets his respect[LNB]Liverpool team page[LNB]Liverpool must close financial gap on elite[LNB]He said: "We are at the top of the Uefa rankings in Europe because we have been so good for the last five years. This was another great result for the club. We couldn't really imagine such a result happening playing Real Madrid because normally it would be very tight. [LNB]"Maybe the players had a little extra bite because of some of the criticism they received in the last few days. They hear things, they read things, and it gives them that little bit more, although they are always motivated. [LNB]"I don't know if it was our best European result but we played very well and I am very pleased for the fans, the players and the club. I don't want to single out individuals, I prefer to talk about the team. Everyone did very well, right through to the doctors and physios. We did not do what Real thought we would do, we were on them straight away and put them under pressure. That was the plan. [LNB]"When you have an important match coming up, as a manager, if the game before, your players play really well and score four goals against a team like Madrid, you have to be really happy. It is the best way to get ready." [LNB]Benitez, ever the pessimist, quipped that he thought Liverpool "could have scored more goals", giving him reason to admit he was not completely satisfied. Gerrard, though, was more effusive. He described his team as "awesome, a fantastic performance". [LNB]Torres, who played despite an ankle injury which, if the heavy brace he left Anfield in last night is anything to go by, is not yet fully healed, admitted no amount of pain could have stopped him facing his fierce childhood rivals. [LNB]He said: "The pain does not matter on nights like this, not just because of my Atletico Madrid past but for the Liverpool fans. This victory was for them." [LNB]Benitez's opposite number, Juande Ramos, admitted Liverpool more than warranted their victory over the two legs, but insisted his team had "given their best" despite a result which suggested the famous white shirts had fallen further than many thought possible. [LNB]Ramos said: "Of course we are very sad and disappointed with ourselves, but I think we did all we could. Liverpool were just too good on the night and they fully deserved to win. [LNB]"They scored very early on but there were doubts about both of the first two goals. From then it was always going to be very difficult. I am not ashamed, because we did our best." [LNB]
