Rafa: Let's Be Remembered For 100 Years

[Sir X]

RAFA: LET'S BE REMEMBERED FOR 100 YEARS
Paul Eaton 20 May 2007
Rafa Benitez has challenged his players to write themselves into Anfield folklore by winning the European Cup for the sixth time on Wednesday evening.
Benitez will join Bob Paisley as the only Anfield boss to win domestic football's biggest prize on more than one occasion if his side can overcome the challenge of AC Milan in Athens.

And he is using the memory of Istanbul - when the Reds had to recover from a 3-0 deficit - to inspire the Reds to more glory this time around.

"If we win in Athens, people might remember this as a significant season in Liverpool's history, with the takeover and everything. If we win, people might still be talking about it in a hundred years.

"Six weeks ago it might have been us who were the favourites but now AC Milan have beaten Manchester United and maybe people think they are favourites.

"It doesn't matter, really. We still approach the game in the same way. They have a good team, we have a good team."

He added: "I still have my notes from Istanbul - not as a souvenir but because I will use them.

"It is important to remember things, so you can correct mistakes next time. You never know when you might be playing against the same team again.

"I will be using them again, for sure and probably making some fresh ones.

"Everybody always asks me about half-time. The one thing I can't forget is the atmosphere. The supporters were magnificent. Even at 3-0 down they were always behind us.

"We all have more experience now and I don't think it will be like last time.

"If they are harder to beat it will be because their players have more experience of winning European competitions and experience of winning the World Cup.

"They will use their experience in this game but it is also the same situation for us. We have more experience now than two years ago too. From my point of view, the two teams are in a similar situation."

Benitez is also hoping victory on Wednesday night will be the perfect springboard for his players to launch a Premiership challenge next season.

Benitez said: "We need to start well next season and if we are close to the top from the beginning I think we'll be contenders.

"I think we can improve mentally and also maybe bring in some new players. I will be looking for players with character.

"We need to improve away, especially. We had hard away games at the start of the season but when you are so far off the top it is difficult to focus on winning every game.

"That's maybe why we are better in the Champions League, where you just have to win one game.

"If the question is can we improve next season, I would answer yes. If the question is will we win the title, well that depends on the others. They will be spending money and trying to improve as well."

[Sir X]

ATHENS '07: BOLO ZENDEN INTERVIEW
Jimmy Rice 20 May 2007
He's fallen at the semi-final hurdle five times, but after so much heartbreak in major competitions, Bolo Zenden has at last made it to a final - injury permitting.
With just three days to go until the big day, the Dutch midfielder talks to liverpoolfc.tv about how it feels to have finally broken his voodoo.





What's the mood in the camp like right now Bolo?

We're all really looking forward to the game. It's a final and it's an opportunity to win a sixth European Cup for the club. That would be a massive achievement. We were very pleased to go to Spain to get our minds set on the final, it's a good thing to get away and get briefed on the opposition every day. Everyone is quite relaxed and we're counting the days until the final.

Obviously you weren't at the club during Istanbul, but have you had to listen to a lot of the players' memories in the build up to this final?

No, not really yet. Before we played Chelsea in the second leg we were shown some images back of what this team is capable of – some of the final was included in that. It showed us that this team can do anything. Being down 3-0 at half-time and coming back is something this team keeps with it all the time; the mentality that we can handle anything that comes at us.

What kind of challenge do Milan pose?

They have a fantastic team with a lot of experience. They have been on the biggest stage for a long time, and they've played a lot of big finals before. Some of them have won the Champions league several times. We have some players playing in the final for the first time, but maybe that will give them extra motivation to bring the cup back home.
It's being billed as a revenge fixture after what happened two years ago. Do you think that will help Milan, or is there a danger they may get caught up in everything?

I don't know. I hope they get caught up in that. I'm sure they'll think about what happened two years ago and I've read somewhere that some of them were still having nightmares about it. Also, revenge was mentioned when we played Chelsea in the semi-final, and we got the better of that game.

How big a part will the Liverpool fans play in Athens?

The fans will play a major part. I'm not sure if the opposition players feel under extra pressure playing in front of our fans, but it definitely spurs us on. It is the 12th man.

You've played in domestic finals across Europe Bolo, but you've always fallen at the semi-final hurdle in Europe. What does it mean to you to have finally reached the final of the European Cup?

It will be a major achievement if we win and I'll look back on it as something to be proud of. You do look back on the games you've played, but you look more at the trophies you have won. Obviously if you can put the Champions League on your CV it looks quite nice. It's also the feeling you get from the game and the whole build up – it's a massive climax to the season. If you walk around Anfield you see pictures of all the fans celebrating two years ago and how packed the city centre was – that's something that stays with you for the rest of your life. That's another motivation next Wednesday, to bring the cup back home and see all the fans with smiles on their faces. I experienced it last year when we won the FA Cup, but I'm sure the Champions League would be slightly different, a bit bigger.

Where did you watch the final two years ago?

I watched it from my holiday address. I knew about some interest in me from Liverpool but I hadn't committed yet. We hadn't spoken deeply.

Looking ahead to Wednesday – is it a case of if you stop Kaka, you stop Milan?

He's obviously a fantastic player with a lot of quality. He is one of the main figures for Milan, so we need to keep an eye on him – but not only him. If we look only at Kaka there are other players who can step up and cause damage. We need to make sure we are really compact, make sure we don't give them opportunities to score. We know they can score from counter-attacks. They are quick and Kaka is obviously one of those players who is good on the counter, so we have to be careful. It's a team effort in this sense. You can talk about the two central midfield players, but the wingers may have to tuck in and one of the strikers too to make sure the spaces are not too big.

You were one of the star performers in the second leg against Chelsea, and you can play in a number of positions. Does that give you hope of being on Rafa's teamsheet on Wednesday night?

Of course. I've played most of the Champions League games this year, maybe 80 or 90 per cent. We went to Spain to try to convince the manager we should be in the side, but in the end he will decide depending on what kind of players he wants in each position and what his tactics he'll want to play. It's not always about a person – the whole puzzle has to fit. That's his job and we try and make it as difficult as possible!

What do you make of comments from Alex Ferguson and others in the build up suggesting Liverpool are underdogs? Could that work in your favour?

I don't think we take that much notice. If we are underdogs, why not? It doesn't mean you are not going to win. Maybe it's something he likes to say because they lost to Milan in the semis.

Liverpool started the season quite slowly but things have gradually turned around. Do you think you are reaching a peak now, performance-wise?

Yes, I think we are. Also, physique-wise. We dropped points in the league early on, and that means you keep running behind. That makes things more difficult, but definitely in Europe we have done well, and from January onwards we've gone on a decent run. There's a lot of teams who get tired but I think we're actually quite fit and raring to go for the final.

Do you think Rafa's rotation has played a part in this?

It's obviously part of it. He and his assistant keep an eye on everything we do and all the minutes we train, and then players sometimes get rested to train and get their physique levels back up. I think definitely this has been a part of it.

Would it be a fair thing to say that Liverpool have concentrated mainly on the Champions League, certainly from the Barcelona victory onwards?

No, I don't think our eyes were only on the final. It's true we're not happy with the points we've got this year. We finished third, like we did last year, but last year we got 82 points so obviously we've been off target this year. In that matter it's a bit disappointing.

[Sir X]

KUYT: WE HAVE TO WIN IT
Paul Eaton 19 May 2007
Dirk Kuyt today looked ahead to the possibility of lifting the Champions League at the end of his debut season on Merseyside and insisted: "We just have to win it!"
The Dutch striker has enjoyed an impressive first campaign as a Liverpool player since his summer switch from Feyenoord and he's hoping a fairytale climax is just days away in Athens.

"Liverpool is a top European club and I came here to win trophies - the Champions League is one of the biggest," he said.

"I am very pleased to have had this happen in my first year. Now we just have to win it.

"I watched Liverpool win against AC Milan two years ago and it was unbelievable - a great, historic match that I will never forget.

"And after seeing that game, it is a marvellous feeling to think that I will be part of the team that is heading once again to the final."

KUYT: I WANT TO WIN IT FOR MY DAD
Paul Eaton 20 May 2007
Dirk Kuyt has revealed how his father's battle to beat cancer will act as a source of inpiration to him in Athens this week.
Dirk senior's battle for health means he's unable to travel to watch his son in action in Athens this week, but the Liverpool striker has pledged to do all he can to bring the Cup back home for his brave dad.

"It is very special to reach the Champions League final and I take great comfort from the fact that my dad is very proud," he said.

"It is very difficult to live your life normally when your dad has cancer and, although I am sure most families have been through similar experiences, being in England while my father has been back in Holland has been a big problem for me.

"The distance between England and Holland isn't so big, but it's a big gulf when your father is so seriously ill. When I was in Holland I would see him every day and help look after him. That is no longer possible, of course.

"At least he has been able to come over to Liverpool for our home games, and he always stays for the weekend. That helps us both and it means a lot to me.

"Now he has seen me achieve one of the biggest things possible as a footballer. I am sad to say he is not well enough to travel to Athens. The trouble is that you have to do a lot of walking in the city and that would be too much for him.

"Instead he will be watching on television at my home in Liverpool, and I want to bring the Cup back for him so he can celebrate with us all."

Kuyt also paid tribute to the Liverpool fans who helped him settle imemdiately at Anfield after he made the tough decision to leave Holland - and his dad!

"The hardest moment of my life was when I signed for Liverpool. I love this club, but it meant leaving my dad and he was just a few days away from a major operation. That was very hard.

"The fans have been wonderful to me and that is why I have been able to settle here. From the very first game their reaction towards me has been incredible. When I first stepped onto the pitch it was like I had been part of the club for months.

"I can't tell you how much I needed that after leaving my dad in holland