Rafa seeks silver lining to Liverpool's season with victory in Europa League

Determined: Anfield chief BenitezLiverpool manager Rafa Benitez sees the Europa League as a realistic opportunity to win silverware despite being handed a tough draw against Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni.   Like the Reds the Romanians exited the Champions League group stages having finished third behind Sevilla and Stuttgart - and ahead of Rangers - and Benitez knows they will pose a threat.   'For me it is too early [to talk about it] because we know we will play in February so we have plenty of time to prepare and learn about the other team,' said the Spaniard.   'It will be tough. Unirea won the league in their country and were in a tough group with Sevilla and Stuttgart - I have some friends in Sevilla so maybe I'll be in touch with them.   'But it is important to have an option to win any trophy. The Europa League is different to the Champions League but there are some good teams in it.   'We have to progress if we can and then it is an opportunity to win a trophy and we will try to do it.'  Liverpool, as an unseeded team after their poor Champions League display, will play the first leg at home on February 18 before travelling to Romania the following week. 'We would prefer to play the second game at home but we have to be ready. It will be interesting,' added Benitez.   Should Liverpool get past Unirea they will play the winners of Lille v Fenerbahce in the last 16. Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, in Nyon for the draw, is not under-estimating Unirea.  Key man: Fernando Torres will be crucial to Liverpool's bid to win a trophy'I think they got eight points in their Champions League group which included Rangers, Sevilla and Stuttgart so that's a decent number of points,' HE SAID.'Obviously there is plenty of coverage now, it's not as if you're going to get a team that won't have been on television so there's plenty of tape there for Rafa to have a look at. 'And also there's a phone call up the road to Walter Smith at Rangers, I'm sure he'll be happy to disclose any information he's got on them.   'It will be a difficult game. They go on a break until March now but whether the rest helps them or hinders them remains to be seen.' Flops Liverpool will take on Petrescu's Unirea Urziceni in the Europa LeagueVIDEO: Unhappy Benitez hungry to send fans home happy with lunchtime winALL THE WEEKEND BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS Italian job: United must beat Milan for the first time over two legs in EuropeRafa Benitez to start with Fernando Torres as Liverpool look to pile on the misery for rock-bottom PompeyLIVERPOOL FC

Source: Daily_Mail