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RAFA: THE FOUNDATIONS ARE NOW THERE
Jimmy Rice 09 August 2007
Rafa Benitez insists he now has a core group of players who can challenge for the Premier League title for many years to come.
The Spaniard believes the foundations for future success are in place – meaning this summer's major influx of players is unlikely to be repeated in years to come.
"What we have achieved this summer is to ensure we won't need to buy many players every year," he said.
"We've bought young players with quality who will improve us. We will add to this every summer, but we are happy at this moment and believe we can try to win every trophy, even though we recognise others can do the same.
"We are a good team, but the league will be as difficult as normal.
"I read one article where a journalist said because we have spent big money we must now win the title.
"On the same page, the same person said Manchester United have spent more money than any side and were still the favourites, and Chelsea were behind them as second favourites.
"We know people will put us under more pressure now, but we also know that the other teams have been better than us for a lot of years. We want to try harder to make this different, but we know how difficult it will be.
"Just because we have spent more money than before, it does not make us favourites.
"We need to analyse situations properly. The reality we know is we have a side to score more goals, play good football and win more games. I look at the squad of United and see their quality, and Chelsea built a team over five or six years spending hundreds of millions. They no longer need to spend at the same level each summer."
Benitez knows the Premier League is the competition every Liverpool fan really wants to win.
While he accepts the league is always the number one priority, he believes he now has a squad in place to compete in every competition.
"Top sides try to win every competition and every game and the order of priority is clear," said the Reds boss.
"First it's the Premier League, then the Champions League, then the FA Cup and league cup.
"This is the same for all the big clubs. Of course, during the course of the season, each competition can become a better option than the other, but at this moment it's clear the Premier League comes first for every club.
"When I think back to last season there are differences between then and now, and the main and most important one is we have a better squad.
"When you ask me each week who will play as a striker, my answer will always be it could be Crouch, Torres, Voronin or Kuyt because all of them are good.
"It's the same in midfield with Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Mascherano and Leiva. All my options are really good and we can use many different players and have a strong side.
"You can see we have more pace and quality. Away from home, especially, we have a lot more options."
After three years at the Anfield helm, Benitez is all too aware of the expectations on his shoulders, but he's not about to make any silly predictions about what his team is capable of.
"In four years we've done a lot of good things and we've also made some mistakes," he admitted.
"Every season we improve bit by bit and now we have a lot more of the players we wanted. Is it enough? Only games will show us.
"I know the team is sharper now than one year ago at this stage. Now we just want to start well. If you get good results in your first few games it has a knock-on effect and that's what we're looking for."
Jimmy Rice 09 August 2007
Rafa Benitez insists he now has a core group of players who can challenge for the Premier League title for many years to come.
The Spaniard believes the foundations for future success are in place – meaning this summer's major influx of players is unlikely to be repeated in years to come.
"What we have achieved this summer is to ensure we won't need to buy many players every year," he said.
"We've bought young players with quality who will improve us. We will add to this every summer, but we are happy at this moment and believe we can try to win every trophy, even though we recognise others can do the same.
"We are a good team, but the league will be as difficult as normal.
"I read one article where a journalist said because we have spent big money we must now win the title.
"On the same page, the same person said Manchester United have spent more money than any side and were still the favourites, and Chelsea were behind them as second favourites.
"We know people will put us under more pressure now, but we also know that the other teams have been better than us for a lot of years. We want to try harder to make this different, but we know how difficult it will be.
"Just because we have spent more money than before, it does not make us favourites.
"We need to analyse situations properly. The reality we know is we have a side to score more goals, play good football and win more games. I look at the squad of United and see their quality, and Chelsea built a team over five or six years spending hundreds of millions. They no longer need to spend at the same level each summer."
Benitez knows the Premier League is the competition every Liverpool fan really wants to win.
While he accepts the league is always the number one priority, he believes he now has a squad in place to compete in every competition.
"Top sides try to win every competition and every game and the order of priority is clear," said the Reds boss.
"First it's the Premier League, then the Champions League, then the FA Cup and league cup.
"This is the same for all the big clubs. Of course, during the course of the season, each competition can become a better option than the other, but at this moment it's clear the Premier League comes first for every club.
"When I think back to last season there are differences between then and now, and the main and most important one is we have a better squad.
"When you ask me each week who will play as a striker, my answer will always be it could be Crouch, Torres, Voronin or Kuyt because all of them are good.
"It's the same in midfield with Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Mascherano and Leiva. All my options are really good and we can use many different players and have a strong side.
"You can see we have more pace and quality. Away from home, especially, we have a lot more options."
After three years at the Anfield helm, Benitez is all too aware of the expectations on his shoulders, but he's not about to make any silly predictions about what his team is capable of.
"In four years we've done a lot of good things and we've also made some mistakes," he admitted.
"Every season we improve bit by bit and now we have a lot more of the players we wanted. Is it enough? Only games will show us.
"I know the team is sharper now than one year ago at this stage. Now we just want to start well. If you get good results in your first few games it has a knock-on effect and that's what we're looking for."
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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