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Benitez the master of Europe
European Football | Liverpool
by Phil McNulty - BBC Sport 02 May 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rafael Benitez may struggle to return the Premiership to what Liverpool regards as its spiritual home - but a journey to the Champions League final on a regular basis more than makes up for that gap in his collection.
Benitez was quizzed about his lack of a title in the after-glow of yet another semi-final triumph over his arch-rival Jose Mourinho.
He admitted it was tough with Manchester United and Chelsea winning almost every week, but he can more than handle the demands of the Champions League.
And so it proved again as Anfield celebrated another wild European night in front of The Kop.
Benitez knew his team had got it wrong at Stamford Bridge - but he scented blood once Chelsea only established a one-goal lead.
He spoke with an open confidence he rarely demonstrates, and his team backed his words once the slipshod and nervous early exchanges were over.
Benitez is not always the amiable nice guy seen by the cameras. He is ruthless and does not take kindly to being crossed, which is clearly what he felt he had been by Mourinho.
This was no footballing classic. It was never going to be.
But Benitez once again confounded those of us who looked at his team-sheet and questioned his approach.
No Xabi Alonso. Two wingers in the inconsistent shape of Jermaine Pennant and the largley ineffective Bolo Zenden.
And yet it all became clear very quickly.
Steven Gerrard was restored to a marauding midfield role after spending time on the margins, while Javier Mascherano was biting and snapping in around Chelsea's heels.
The pairing of Alonso and Mascherano was too similar at Chelsea, too deep. Benitez remedied the problem and was rewarded with a bristling display from the Argentine.
Mascherano's distribution is not perfect, but he loves a tackle, as several Chelsea players discovered.
It was impossible to recognise him from the dispirited figure witnessed at West Ham earlier this season.
Benitez regards himself as an arch-strategist, and the two-leg format suits him and Liverpool perfectly.
They proved it against Juventus and Chelsea in 2005 and this year favourites Barcelona and Chelsea again have perished on Benitez's drawing board.
Liverpool were the team creating the clearer chances, despite Mourinho's claim that Chelsea were the better side.
As for the final, Benitez will have to make some tough tactical choices whether they play AC Milan or Manchester United.
But he can usually be relied upon to fashion a result when an occasion demands it - and is occasionally followed by the odd stroke of good fortune every successful manager needs.
Manchester United would provide a sterner attacking test than Chelsea did, and Benitez's choice in midfield and attack will be key against either them or the Italians.
But after winning the Uefa Cup in his final season with Valencia and already claiming one Champions League for Liverpool, don't bet against another winning strategy in Athens.
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comment by Boony1892
posted 47 Minutes Ago
You Chelski fans just don't get it do you ? The more bait us reds throw your way, the more bites we get.
We know Liverpool aren't the best team in the premiership. They probably aren't the best team in the CL. We know what shortcomings our team has. We are well aware of our history. Everyone is well aware of our history. We are rightly proud of what our club has achieved over many years.
Now compare that to Chelski. Have great recent success. Erm, they have, erm, lots of money !? Can some Reds help ? I'm stuck now. Oh, i know, they have lots of CL wins. No, that's not right is it ? How many is it again ?
Right you reds. How many Chelski's can i catch and how quick ?
In all seriousness, Chelsea have had another awesome season. With a little luck, they may still win the PL. They've already won one pot and have the chance to win the FA up.
The reason people are taunting you so much is because you will not accept the fact that you lost. Doesn't matter who the better team is. All that matters is the result.
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comment by kmateso
posted 45 Minutes Ago
He ain't a master yet until he wins the champions cup. But may be 'cause he's beaten Mourinho almost in all cup competitions, he deserves some praise. A little Praise.
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comment by momoofalgiers
posted 43 Minutes Ago
Few days prior to the first leg at stamford bridge mourinho admitted bitterly that liverpool had more chances to go through.
The point is that the stats learned him to respect Benitez even if he doesn't appreciate him publicly. Whatever are his deep feelings for him, he now fears him and knowing the fact that they're many today who share the same feeling, it becomes clear that if Benitez shows consistancy and wisdom all the time(he ruled out his countryman Xabi last night), he will pave his own pathway to glory.
Till now, as a latin roman catholic christian, who grew up under dictatorship of Franco in Spain, he showed a lot of inclination for discipline,order and committment(no creativity at all). Down the road, he used his abilities as a good father to set a kind of brotherhood between average players under his rule,and of course we all know the come out of that. Good games alternate with bad ones. Liverpool players are a family that act as one when facing the big sides. But when it comes to other minor ties the « red machine » is bogged. The players give us the feeling that they don’t belong to the same team. Liverpool has heavily lacked this season a constant continuity between lines…
That’s why it is time for him to accept to break the fence and act as just a big brother who is that close to every one. This new committment will rise the eagerness of players for creativity since they will feel themselves more responsible inside and outside the pitch with bigger confidence in their abilities.
Simultaneously, they all have to learn that there’s a counterpart for that, they will be held accountable for their acts individually, any time, all the time.
Individual effiency for the sake of the group must be the new criterium withwhich you judge players. But prior to that, make them go out of their depth and deliver the best of them (see what happened yesterday).
Therefore, in order to reset this new mentality for the long run, there is only one practical choice left: don't buy good players but bring a new leader who's able to enlighten the road even if it has to be at the expense of the local legend ,Gerrard.
Buy someone like Kaka to improve the outlet of all players individually, not Alves Quaresma and so on.
Kaka or anyone else at the same level will have huge and constant deep impact on the quality of the game that liverpool will desperately neeeeed tomorrow to face new big challenges...
In two words, to be a legend, requires you to learn not to make heavy mistakes when comes time for dramatic move instead of trying to find out and pile the so called "good choices" one after one. It is that simple. Infortunately....
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comment by panofscouse
posted 39 Minutes Ago
Fighting on four fronts ain't easy but Liverpool used to do it with a squad of 14 players.
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comment by kmateso
posted 33 Minutes Ago
That's is Mourinho. It's quite funny that after every loss he's got something to say in favour of his team. May be this is why he's called the "special one."
He's developing a character like that of Zimbabwean president. Of never accepting defeat. Shame.
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comment by respect_my_authority
posted 19 Minutes Ago
Mourinho has made a fool of himself. Over 90 minutes Liverpool probably just about deserved a draw at Stamford Bridge. But at Anfield a scoreline of 3-0 would have been about right. He used to be funny but now he's just getting pathetic. Kind of like The Iraqi Minister for Information in the last days of the Iraq War.
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comment by aledgog
posted 13 Minutes Ago
Fair play to Benitez, if he can take a team with only one world class player to the Champions league final TWICE, he obviously knows how to get the best out of a team in Europe who are - at best - the 3rd best in England. I'm scratching my head to know how he does it...
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comment by sycostill
posted 9 Minutes Ago
comment by respect_my_authority
posted 7 Minutes Ago
Mourinho has made a fool of himself. Over 90 minutes Liverpool probably just about deserved a draw at Stamford Bridge
how so? they only had one decent attempt? chelsea should have been 3 nil up by half time
-------------------------------
and for all those chelsea hating man utd fans who have been laughing at chelsea and saying see liverpool in the final .,
ha ha ha
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
3 english semi finalists, 0 english winners.
ac milan all the way!!!!
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comment by aledgog
posted 9 Minutes Ago
European Football | Liverpool
by Phil McNulty - BBC Sport 02 May 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rafael Benitez may struggle to return the Premiership to what Liverpool regards as its spiritual home - but a journey to the Champions League final on a regular basis more than makes up for that gap in his collection.
Benitez was quizzed about his lack of a title in the after-glow of yet another semi-final triumph over his arch-rival Jose Mourinho.
He admitted it was tough with Manchester United and Chelsea winning almost every week, but he can more than handle the demands of the Champions League.
And so it proved again as Anfield celebrated another wild European night in front of The Kop.
Benitez knew his team had got it wrong at Stamford Bridge - but he scented blood once Chelsea only established a one-goal lead.
He spoke with an open confidence he rarely demonstrates, and his team backed his words once the slipshod and nervous early exchanges were over.
Benitez is not always the amiable nice guy seen by the cameras. He is ruthless and does not take kindly to being crossed, which is clearly what he felt he had been by Mourinho.
This was no footballing classic. It was never going to be.
But Benitez once again confounded those of us who looked at his team-sheet and questioned his approach.
No Xabi Alonso. Two wingers in the inconsistent shape of Jermaine Pennant and the largley ineffective Bolo Zenden.
And yet it all became clear very quickly.
Steven Gerrard was restored to a marauding midfield role after spending time on the margins, while Javier Mascherano was biting and snapping in around Chelsea's heels.
The pairing of Alonso and Mascherano was too similar at Chelsea, too deep. Benitez remedied the problem and was rewarded with a bristling display from the Argentine.
Mascherano's distribution is not perfect, but he loves a tackle, as several Chelsea players discovered.
It was impossible to recognise him from the dispirited figure witnessed at West Ham earlier this season.
Benitez regards himself as an arch-strategist, and the two-leg format suits him and Liverpool perfectly.
They proved it against Juventus and Chelsea in 2005 and this year favourites Barcelona and Chelsea again have perished on Benitez's drawing board.
Liverpool were the team creating the clearer chances, despite Mourinho's claim that Chelsea were the better side.
As for the final, Benitez will have to make some tough tactical choices whether they play AC Milan or Manchester United.
But he can usually be relied upon to fashion a result when an occasion demands it - and is occasionally followed by the odd stroke of good fortune every successful manager needs.
Manchester United would provide a sterner attacking test than Chelsea did, and Benitez's choice in midfield and attack will be key against either them or the Italians.
But after winning the Uefa Cup in his final season with Valencia and already claiming one Champions League for Liverpool, don't bet against another winning strategy in Athens.
comment on this article | send to a friend
Latest 10 comments view all 605 comments
Read members' comments or add your own
comment by Boony1892
posted 47 Minutes Ago
You Chelski fans just don't get it do you ? The more bait us reds throw your way, the more bites we get.
We know Liverpool aren't the best team in the premiership. They probably aren't the best team in the CL. We know what shortcomings our team has. We are well aware of our history. Everyone is well aware of our history. We are rightly proud of what our club has achieved over many years.
Now compare that to Chelski. Have great recent success. Erm, they have, erm, lots of money !? Can some Reds help ? I'm stuck now. Oh, i know, they have lots of CL wins. No, that's not right is it ? How many is it again ?
Right you reds. How many Chelski's can i catch and how quick ?
In all seriousness, Chelsea have had another awesome season. With a little luck, they may still win the PL. They've already won one pot and have the chance to win the FA up.
The reason people are taunting you so much is because you will not accept the fact that you lost. Doesn't matter who the better team is. All that matters is the result.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by kmateso
posted 45 Minutes Ago
He ain't a master yet until he wins the champions cup. But may be 'cause he's beaten Mourinho almost in all cup competitions, he deserves some praise. A little Praise.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by momoofalgiers
posted 43 Minutes Ago
Few days prior to the first leg at stamford bridge mourinho admitted bitterly that liverpool had more chances to go through.
The point is that the stats learned him to respect Benitez even if he doesn't appreciate him publicly. Whatever are his deep feelings for him, he now fears him and knowing the fact that they're many today who share the same feeling, it becomes clear that if Benitez shows consistancy and wisdom all the time(he ruled out his countryman Xabi last night), he will pave his own pathway to glory.
Till now, as a latin roman catholic christian, who grew up under dictatorship of Franco in Spain, he showed a lot of inclination for discipline,order and committment(no creativity at all). Down the road, he used his abilities as a good father to set a kind of brotherhood between average players under his rule,and of course we all know the come out of that. Good games alternate with bad ones. Liverpool players are a family that act as one when facing the big sides. But when it comes to other minor ties the « red machine » is bogged. The players give us the feeling that they don’t belong to the same team. Liverpool has heavily lacked this season a constant continuity between lines…
That’s why it is time for him to accept to break the fence and act as just a big brother who is that close to every one. This new committment will rise the eagerness of players for creativity since they will feel themselves more responsible inside and outside the pitch with bigger confidence in their abilities.
Simultaneously, they all have to learn that there’s a counterpart for that, they will be held accountable for their acts individually, any time, all the time.
Individual effiency for the sake of the group must be the new criterium withwhich you judge players. But prior to that, make them go out of their depth and deliver the best of them (see what happened yesterday).
Therefore, in order to reset this new mentality for the long run, there is only one practical choice left: don't buy good players but bring a new leader who's able to enlighten the road even if it has to be at the expense of the local legend ,Gerrard.
Buy someone like Kaka to improve the outlet of all players individually, not Alves Quaresma and so on.
Kaka or anyone else at the same level will have huge and constant deep impact on the quality of the game that liverpool will desperately neeeeed tomorrow to face new big challenges...
In two words, to be a legend, requires you to learn not to make heavy mistakes when comes time for dramatic move instead of trying to find out and pile the so called "good choices" one after one. It is that simple. Infortunately....
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by panofscouse
posted 39 Minutes Ago
Fighting on four fronts ain't easy but Liverpool used to do it with a squad of 14 players.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by kmateso
posted 33 Minutes Ago
That's is Mourinho. It's quite funny that after every loss he's got something to say in favour of his team. May be this is why he's called the "special one."
He's developing a character like that of Zimbabwean president. Of never accepting defeat. Shame.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by respect_my_authority
posted 19 Minutes Ago
Mourinho has made a fool of himself. Over 90 minutes Liverpool probably just about deserved a draw at Stamford Bridge. But at Anfield a scoreline of 3-0 would have been about right. He used to be funny but now he's just getting pathetic. Kind of like The Iraqi Minister for Information in the last days of the Iraq War.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by aledgog
posted 13 Minutes Ago
Fair play to Benitez, if he can take a team with only one world class player to the Champions league final TWICE, he obviously knows how to get the best out of a team in Europe who are - at best - the 3rd best in England. I'm scratching my head to know how he does it...
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by sycostill
posted 9 Minutes Ago
comment by respect_my_authority
posted 7 Minutes Ago
Mourinho has made a fool of himself. Over 90 minutes Liverpool probably just about deserved a draw at Stamford Bridge
how so? they only had one decent attempt? chelsea should have been 3 nil up by half time
-------------------------------
and for all those chelsea hating man utd fans who have been laughing at chelsea and saying see liverpool in the final .,
ha ha ha
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
you're not singing anymore
3 english semi finalists, 0 english winners.
ac milan all the way!!!!
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by aledgog
posted 9 Minutes Ago
Comment