[lfc-news] Rafa: 'I want to think only of winning the next game' - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 29 Oct 2004
'I want to think only of winning the next game'
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

"WE MUST be doing well. There are so many reporters here," observes Rafa
Benitez having concluded one newspaper interview and been summoned by TV.

Liverpool's manager and players are in demand, and at the moment the
questions are accentuating the positive.

Victory over Millwall in midweek was achieved with the kind of authority
Benitez intends to make his hallmark.

And if the momentum is kept at Ewood Park on Saturday, Liverpool's crawl
towards the top of the Premiership will pick up speed.

Having said that, try turning any conversation with Benitez towards
catching Arsenal and the most polite rebuke in football follows.

"When you start talking about things like that, you lose sight of the
reality," says Benitez.

"I didn't think about what it meant for Liverpool when Arsenal lost last
week. Okay, we know we are nine points behind with a game in hand, but if
you analyse the Premiership table you lose focus. I want to think only of
winning the next game.

"If we win, I'll let the journalists talk about how close we are to the
top. I don't want to talk about these things.

"People may say we are better now because we are winning, but if we lose a
game and concede another goal from a set-piece, people will be saying
something else again.

"After three years in Valencia, we always found something to improve with
the team and it will be the same here. You can always do something better."

Benitez will recall his big guns for the trip to Blackburn, but the success
in midweek was significant for numerous reasons.

Not only did his youngsters stake their claim for further appearances,
there was a seamless transition in the tactical approach of the team.

The pressing, possession game which is at the core of Benitez's values
survived 10 changes.

"When you change many players but the team plays with the same movement and
puts in place the same ideas, it means the players are responding, " says
Benitez.

"They are still learning all the time but I like it when you can change one
player for another with no difference and no problems.

"Then when the players are competing with each other for a place, you will
increase their level even more.

"All the youngsters played well. They deserve praise because it was a very
difficult place to go. Zak Whitbread was safe in defence and Darren Potter
was good as both a winger and when he moved inside to play as a second forward.

"Neil Mellor fought very hard and had some opportunities and Stephen
Warnock had a good game. It's important for the team and for them they
contributed so well in such a tough game."

The youngsters will get another chance against Middlesbrough in the next
round, and Benitez insists they earned their place on merit.

Prior to the Millwall result, cynics could have dismissed the introduction
of four Academy graduates as a publicity stunt.

Victory at The New Den underlined there was more to it than mere PR and
Benitez is forceful in his view he will only select players who are good
enough to wear the red jersey.

"Liverpool is the same as every other club in that the fans want you to use
the youngsters," says Benitez.

"In Valencia I would often use seven youngsters in the cup games. Some of
them stayed in the first team, others have gone on to new clubs, some in
the Spanish first or second division. The experience helped them and the club.

"As a manager, when you have the opportunity to give talented youngsters a
chance you must do it. But my view is it all depends on them. If they show
me they are good enough, I will use them.

"In my opinion, all the youngsters who played against Millwall have that
potential. Now they will need further games to get more experience."


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