[lfc-news] Benitez turns on Kewell's advisors - Independent

The Independent, 22 Feb 2005
Benitez turns on Kewell's advisors
By Phil Shaw

Gritting was under way on Merseyside last night, but the process had already begun in terms of the character of Rafael Benitez. After his untypically rugged criticism of his players' surrender at Birmingham City, the normally smooth-talking Liverpool manager again showed his
tougher side by rounding on the friends of Harry Kewell as the Australian prepared to make his comeback at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the first knock-out round of the Champions' League tonight.

Kewell, who has been struggling to overcome injuries to his groin and Achilles, is likely to return as a front-runner in the first leg against the Germans after an absence of two months. The manager of Australia's national side, Frank Farina, and the former Leeds United player's agent,
Bernie Mandic, have both expressed the opinion that Kewell should be resting, but Benitez heaped gritty contempt upon them by instructing them to back off and reminding them that Liverpool pay his wages.

"I'm not happy with the people around Harry talking all the time and not doing the best things for him," Benitez said. "I don't know if the manager and agent are doctors, but he is a key player for us and we wantto see the best of him, not hear them talking all the time."

The Spaniard continued in bullish vein: "Harry has trained properly for the past 10 days. He is working hard and playing well. We have a very good medical department and they say he is fit. He is our player: we pay him and we control him; we want to see the best of him and we know what to do to achieve that. The only thing other people must do is to say tohim: 'Play as well as possible'."

Kewell, who played as a striker for an hour in a reserve fixture last week, is earmarked to start against Leverkusen because of the unavailability of Fernando Morientes (cup-tied) and Steven Gerrard (suspended). He has not enjoyed the best of seasons, in respect of either form or fitness. However, Benitez hopes that a capacity crowd at Anfield - and the prospect of claiming a place in Sunday's Carling Cup final against Chelsea in Cardiff - might coax the player into reprising the finishing flair he demonstrated during Leeds' run to the semi-finalsin 2000-01.

The next season, Liverpool appeared poised to emulate the Yorkshire club when they faced Leverkusen at the quarter-final stage. With the aggregate score at 3-3 with six minutes of the second leg remaining, the side then under Gérard Houllier's stewardship led on away goals. It was then that Lucio made it 4-2 on the night and took Klaus Toppmöller's team through to the last four, where they defeated Manchester United enroute to a gallant failure in the Glasgow final with Real Madrid.

These days Leverkusen are coached by Klaus Augenthaler, who can tap into the wisdom of the former Germany and Roma coach Rudi Völler now that he has returned to the club as sporting director. Not that Augenthaler appears to need advice. Their Champions' League record reveals victories over Real Madrid (3-1), Roma (3-1) and Dynamo Kiev (4-1), while they have also routed Bayern Munich 4-1 in domestic combat and won four oftheir five matches since the Bundesliga resumed in the new year.

"German teams are always difficult opponents," said Benitez, who was happy to avoid Spanish and Italian opposition when the draw was made. "As well as being physically strong, they have great experience at this level. The players who came up against Leverkusen in 2002 know how hardit will be, especially with the second leg away from home."

Augenthaler will be without the Germany defender Jens Nowotny, who damaged knee ligaments in Sunday's 4-2 success at Nuremberg and will be out for the rest of the season. The identity of his understudy will be of particular interest to Kewell and Milan Baros, since Roque Junior endured a torrid time in English football 18 months ago. In his five Premiership appearances for Leeds while on loan from Milan, they shipped 20 goals. "It was a new experience in a new country," Uefa's press office yesterday quoted the Brazilian World Cup-winner as saying. "Iimproved my English."

Liverpool have never lost to German opposition at Anfield, winning 11 of 14 games, whereas their visitors have a solitary draw (which admittedly deprived Manchester United of a final place three years ago) to show for five appearances in England. Benitez will not trust in history so much as in the use he has made of Morientes' first-hand knowledge of Leverkusen (as an ex-Real Madrid player). He looks, too, to the wall of sound that inspired the dramatic elimination of Olympiakos to helpoffset the absence of Gerrard.

Liverpool (4-4-2; probable): Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traoré; Luis Garcia, Hamann, Biscan, Riise; Baros, Kewell.

Bayer Leverkusen (4-1-3-2; probable): Butt; Schneider, Callsen-Bracker, Roque Junior, Placente; Ramelow; Freier, Ponte, Krzynowek; Berbatov,Voronin.

Referee: K Vassaras (Greece).

The Lowdown on... Bayer Leverkusen

How do they beat you? Leverkusen play swift, counter-attacking football based on solid defensive foundations. They have produced some of thebest attacking play seen in the Bundesliga this season.

Strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Franca have each scored five times in the Champions' League, while Brazilian Robson Ponte provides the creativespark in midfield.

How do you beat them? Inconsistent on their travels, Leverkusen suffer from the occasional disciplinary lapse, having 21 players booked in the group stages. The normally trustworthy Leverkusen defence looks increasingly shaky in the absence of Jens Nowotny, who tore knee
ligaments against Nuremberg on Saturday. The Argentinian Diego Placente is the only surviving member of the back four that lost to Real Madrid in the 2002 final.

Key man? German international midfielder Bernd Schneider typifies the industrious football that took Leverkusen to the final of the Champions' League in 2002. His foraging runs, excellent crossing and prowess fromset-pieces provide a sting to an impressive attacking line-up.

Any familiar faces? Brazilian defender Roque Junior endured a torrid three-month loan spell at Leeds United last season before being shipped out to Siena as the Yorkshire side sought to cut costs. He joinedLeverkusen in 2004 after being released by Milan.