Tweet
BENITEZ: FORGET PAST, LET'S MAKE HISTORY
Jimmy Rice 23 April 2007
Rafa Benitez has told his players to forget about their historic triumph over Chelsea in 2005 and get on with making more history.
Liverpool are meeting Jose Mourinho's men in the Champions League semi-final for the second time in three seasons.
The draw has brought back memories of Luis Garcia's famous goal which took the Reds to Istanbul, but Benitez refuses to be drawn on past glories.
"It's history, it's gone," said the Spaniard, "If Chelsea really want to argue about the goal, then we will argue it should have been a penalty and a red card, but it is better to look ahead.
"The history the two clubs will create in the next two meetings is more important than what happened in the past."
Two years ago, Liverpool travelled home from the first-leg at Stamford Bridge on the back of a goalless draw.
But while Benitez predicts a similarly tight encounter on Wednesday, the Anfield boss insists that, this time around, he'll send his side out looking for goals.
He said: "I don't think there will be many goals in the tie. Chelsea have a very good defence and concede fewer goals now than we do.
"But 0-0 away from home is not necessarily a good result; it is better to try and score a goal. We scored goals in Barcelona and our idea is to score at Stamford Bridge and hopefully to win.
"I think it will be a tight game, though. It tends to be like that when you know you have another game to come."
As is always the case when Liverpool meet Chelsea, much is being made of the tactical battle between the two managers.
However, Benitez is keen to stress that players win matches, not coaches.
"It is not about Jose and me; it is better to talk about Gerrard against Lampard," he said. "Managers can prepare plans, but at the end of the day games come down to players.
"What happens on the pitch decides things, not what managers want to happen. I remember Eidur Gudjohnsen had a good chance to equalise late in the game at Anfield. If he had scored it would have been very different.
"Chelsea would have won, Liverpool would not have been in Istanbul and no one would be complimenting me on my tactics."
While London and Liverpool pit their wits for the chance to be represented in the final, the other semi sees Man Utd take on Italian giants AC Milan.
For Benitez, the presence of three English sides as the competition reaches its finale is proof the Premiership is currently to best league in the world.
"I'm not overlooking Milan, because they are a team with a lot of quality and experience and they are still in with a good chance in the Champions League," said the 47-year-old.
"But if you are comparing league with league, I think the English league might be the strongest around right now. Maybe in only one year things will change, but I know the Spanish league very well and I know the English league. I think at this moment England is a little better.
"Obviously there are some very good teams in Spain, but generally the competition is stronger in this country.
"I have been very impressed with Chelsea this season, the way they have played and the way they have kept the pressure on Manchester United.
"For me, United have been almost perfect this season; they have been fantastic, but Chelsea have been very close and that says a lot. We know we are in for a tough game, but I think we are a better team now than two years ago."
Jimmy Rice 23 April 2007
Rafa Benitez has told his players to forget about their historic triumph over Chelsea in 2005 and get on with making more history.
Liverpool are meeting Jose Mourinho's men in the Champions League semi-final for the second time in three seasons.
The draw has brought back memories of Luis Garcia's famous goal which took the Reds to Istanbul, but Benitez refuses to be drawn on past glories.
"It's history, it's gone," said the Spaniard, "If Chelsea really want to argue about the goal, then we will argue it should have been a penalty and a red card, but it is better to look ahead.
"The history the two clubs will create in the next two meetings is more important than what happened in the past."
Two years ago, Liverpool travelled home from the first-leg at Stamford Bridge on the back of a goalless draw.
But while Benitez predicts a similarly tight encounter on Wednesday, the Anfield boss insists that, this time around, he'll send his side out looking for goals.
He said: "I don't think there will be many goals in the tie. Chelsea have a very good defence and concede fewer goals now than we do.
"But 0-0 away from home is not necessarily a good result; it is better to try and score a goal. We scored goals in Barcelona and our idea is to score at Stamford Bridge and hopefully to win.
"I think it will be a tight game, though. It tends to be like that when you know you have another game to come."
As is always the case when Liverpool meet Chelsea, much is being made of the tactical battle between the two managers.
However, Benitez is keen to stress that players win matches, not coaches.
"It is not about Jose and me; it is better to talk about Gerrard against Lampard," he said. "Managers can prepare plans, but at the end of the day games come down to players.
"What happens on the pitch decides things, not what managers want to happen. I remember Eidur Gudjohnsen had a good chance to equalise late in the game at Anfield. If he had scored it would have been very different.
"Chelsea would have won, Liverpool would not have been in Istanbul and no one would be complimenting me on my tactics."
While London and Liverpool pit their wits for the chance to be represented in the final, the other semi sees Man Utd take on Italian giants AC Milan.
For Benitez, the presence of three English sides as the competition reaches its finale is proof the Premiership is currently to best league in the world.
"I'm not overlooking Milan, because they are a team with a lot of quality and experience and they are still in with a good chance in the Champions League," said the 47-year-old.
"But if you are comparing league with league, I think the English league might be the strongest around right now. Maybe in only one year things will change, but I know the Spanish league very well and I know the English league. I think at this moment England is a little better.
"Obviously there are some very good teams in Spain, but generally the competition is stronger in this country.
"I have been very impressed with Chelsea this season, the way they have played and the way they have kept the pressure on Manchester United.
"For me, United have been almost perfect this season; they have been fantastic, but Chelsea have been very close and that says a lot. We know we are in for a tough game, but I think we are a better team now than two years ago."
Comment