Source: Telegraph
Rafael Benitez exudes confidence as he prepares to face Chelsea yet again
It was also the beaming demeanour of the man holding court inside, Rafael Benitez, talking excitedly about the now traditional draw with Chelsea in the Champions League, pausing only to lob a barb or two at Sir Alex Ferguson and reveal he had no get-out clause in his new contract should the club's ownership alter. [LNB]Outside Melwood's gates, Liverpool fans were similarly abuzz with chatter about the future, delighting that Rafa the Gaffer had committed himself to five more years and relishing another chance for some caustic serenading of Frank Lampard and John Terry. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League team news[LNB]Quotes of the week[LNB]Something for the Weekend[LNB]Champions League guide[LNB]Villa frustrate Liverpool over Gareth Barry[LNB]John Arne Riise ready for his Chelsea 'chance'[LNB]Over the past four years, Liverpool have contested eight European games against Chelsea, invariably tight affairs producing only 10 goals. And five of those came in the last skirmish, ending with Chelsea reaching the Moscow final against Ferguson's Manchester United. [LNB]Liverpool's path to the Rome climax is blocked first by Chelsea (and Uefa have sensibly responded to Liverpool pleas to respect the April 15, 20th anniversary of Hillsborough by bringing the second leg forward 24 hours). Then Barcelona or Bayern Munich lie in wait while United have been presented with a far easier passage. The champions tackle Porto for the right to face Arsenal or Villarreal in the semis. [LNB]"United have a better draw,'' reflected Benitez. "I don't know who is drawing this! United are favourites. Chelsea will be tough. We go to Chelsea second which is more difficult. They play with more confidence now. They are in form again under Guus Hiddink. [LNB]"I know Hiddink because when he was at Valencia, I had some friends there, so I know he's a good coach. Some years ago he used the Dutch [4-3-3] style, and technically his teams were good with good ideas. Afterwards, Hiddink was with South Korea and Russia so he has more experience. He had the skills and now he has the knowledge. He can do well at this level. And Chelsea have some very good players.'' [LNB]Like a revitalised Didier Drogba, who responded to Benitez's goading after last season's semi-final first leg to score twice in the return. Benitez shrugged at the memory. "It doesn't matter what is said, it's a Champions League semi-final so you will be extra-motivated. He's a striker. He has to score.'' Three weeks to go, and the mind games have already started. [LNB]But can Liverpool do to Chelsea what they have just done to the English and European champions? To borrow a line from that local lad John Lennon, Liverpool threw a Spaniard in the works of United's regal progression in the Premier League. Fernando Torres ran at Nemanja Vidic in Liverpool's 4-1 win and Benitez will surely order his accomplished centre-forward to hound Terry. [LNB]Benitez predicted more of a test for Torres. "Vidic and Terry are both very good, but Terry has the character you need to win at this level over a long time,'' remarked the Liverpool manager. "Terry has the confidence, he has more experience of English football. He's a great leader. Vidic is younger but still a very good player.'' [LNB]Having moved to within four points of United, who have a game in hand, Liverpool are determined to make sure they maintain the pressure. It says everything for Benitez's pursuit of perfection that as his players gathered on the training pitch, buoyed by the return from injury of Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger, and started chatting about the draw with Chelsea, the Spaniard refocused their attention with two words. "Aston Villa,'' he barked, getting them to concentrate on Sunday's domestic challenge. [LNB]After training was complete, Benitez admitted: "It will be difficult in the Premier League but not impossible. If we can beat Villa we will be in a fantastic position because we will still be in the title race and with a lot of confidence.'' [LNB]Belief is in the air at Anfield. Having signed his contract, Benitez articulated his determination "to win titles'' and outlined why Liverpool sometimes struggled to make the gear-shift from the Champions League, where they excel, to the Premier League, where they can falter to less gifted, more physical opponents. [LNB]"The Premier League is the best league in the world: more pace, physically stronger. Technically it is good and tactically it has improved. With the Champions League, you play with foreign referees so the style of football is totally different. [LNB]"The Premier League is more physical. If you play teams at the bottom of the table you know it will be very, very tough. In the Spanish League, you can see the difference between Real Madrid and Barcelona and the other teams. Technically they are much better and the referees protect the players physically. It is easier for the player with quality.'' [LNB]That statement rather ignores Cristiano Ronaldo being comfortably the most technically gifted and effective player in the English game last season. The real problem for Benitez, apart from his caution at times, is that Liverpool's talent pool needs deepening, lessening the reliance on Torres and Steven Gerrard. [LNB]Benitez vigorously disputed Ferguson's claim that he had spent £24 million more than United's manager over recent years. "Check the figures! Check the figures!'' Benitez kept repeating. "It doesn't matter whatever Ferguson says about money, United have more money, so they can spend more money. [LNB]"We can win titles and if we have big, big money it will be easier. [LNB]"To reduce the gap in terms of money with United because the [new] stadium [is not built] is not easy. But yesterday and today we were very busy, talking to the agents of Agger and [Dirk] Kuyt. Both want to stay.'' [LNB]Some managers enjoy operating with noises off, with an element of creative tension with their employers, keeping everyone on edge. "All managers need a stable situation,'' argued Benitez, who understands the "uncertainty'' over whether the American co-owners, the fractious pair of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, will sell. "If you cannot [have stability], you need some guarantees.'' [LNB]Benitez feels he has guarantees. "The owners have both signed my contract. Both. That's important. Both told me they want the best for the club. For me, that is enough. I will keep very good relations with the owner. It doesn't matter who is there, I will try to do my best controlling the football operation.'' So no get-out clause? "No. I signed the deal because I am 100 per cent committed to Liverpool.'' [LNB]
