[lfc-news] Rafa interview - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 22 Oct 2004
RAFA ON CL HOPES, CHARLTON AND PONGOLLE
By Steve Hunter

Rafael Benitez speaks exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv about the Reds chances
of qualifying for the next phase of the Champions League, the visit of
Charlton on Saturday and the first team chances of Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

~ Liverpoolfc.tv: First of all Rafa a frustrating night against Deportivo
but you must take great heart from a fine performance from Liverpool
against an inspired goalkeeper in Molina?

Rafael Benitez: I saw a very good team in Liverpool against Deportivo. This
is the right way to play and if we can keep playing that way it will be
easy for us to win games.

~ How many points do you feel you will need to qualify for the next stage
of the Champions League?

I am not thinking about the points and what we will need and I prefer to
think about the next game in Deportivo and in my mind we are going over
there to win the game. I am confident we will qualify for the next phase of
the competition.

~ Djibril Cisse's lack of goals so far, is that something of a concern for
you or would your message for the fans be he still needs time?

He is working hard and I am sure he will score many goals. He needs to
understand and know his team-mates better, and to know their movement. He
will score goals for sure.

~ What is the thinking behind Milan Baros taking corners?

We want to use all the possibilities of the team and the players. I use
Milan Baros on the right side and Luis Garcia to take them on the left side
but we can also use Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. We need to use the best
of each player.

~ Your captain Steven Gerrard, is he ahead of schedule and when do you
expect him to be available again?

I talked with Steven this week and perhaps he will be back in three weeks.

~ How is Antonio Nunez and when can Liverpool fans expect to see him in action?

It will be the same time as Gerrard and I hope he will be back in three weeks.

~ Looking ahead to the visit of Charlton Athletic to Anfield on Saturday,
they did the double over Liverpool last season so does that mean there will
be an added incentive of trying to get the three points?

Perhaps it is a good thing to say to the players these things and remind
them about last season. I want us to play at the same level and if we play
like we did in the first half against Deportivo normally we will win.

~ Danny Murphy returns to Anfield with his new club Charlton, would you
have been happy for him to stay here had he chose to?

Perhaps but you cannot talk about things that happened in the past. It's
important for him and he's playing because he wants to play. I want for him
the best but only after the game!

~ At the moment Arsenal seem unbeatable in the Premiership. How important
is it for Liverpool to keep up the challenge in the Premiership and not let
them get too far ahead even at this early stage?

It's more important for us to increase our level and it's more important
for us to win the next game. If you win you have more confidence and
perhaps in the future we will see an improvement. For now we only want to
improve our level.

~ Florent Sinama-Pongolle hasn't featured much so far this season but
looked lively when he came on against Deportivo. Is he a player that could
come into your thoughts for a first team place?

If he plays at the same level he did against Deportivo, sure. He played
very well in the 10 minutes at the end of the game. When you change a
player during the game you want to see something different and
Sinama-Pongolle played very well. He is quick and can dribble and does
different things.

~ Stephane Henchoz hasn't featured much this season. Is it fair to assume
that he isn't part of your future plans for this club or could there still
be a chance for him?

I'm not sure about Stephane Henchoz's future at this moment. We have two
months until the January transfer window and then we will see. He could
play some games but at this moment it is very difficult for him because
Carragher and Hyypia are playing very well together."

~ We know that Pako Ayesteran is your assistant, what about Paco Herrera.
Can you tell the fans a little more about him and his role working with you?

Paco is a Spanish coach and he was a chief scout in Spain also. Here at
Liverpool he is the chief scout and coach. His job is something you
wouldn't normally see (read about) in the newspapers but he is very
important for us for the future.

~ And finally, I know you don't like talking about future matches but it's
Millwall in the Carling Cup next Tuesday. How high would you say does that
competition rate amongst your priorities this season?

Our priority is to win the Premiership title, to be better than fourth.
After that it's to win the Champions League and the Carling Cup is a
possibility, but we are not thinking about this competition as a priority.


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