[lfc-news] Rafa proud despite Cup defeat - Official Site

Official LFC Website, 27 Feb 2005
RAFA PROUD DESPITE CUP DEFEAT
By Paul Eaton

Rafael Benitez feels his Liverpool side should have emerged triumphant
from Sunday's Carling Cup final.
The Reds crashed to a 3-2 defeat, despite holding the lead for 79
minutes until Steven Gerrard's unfortunate own goal gave the Londoners
the impetus to go on and secure victory in extra time.

But Benitez feels his players had enough chances when the score was only
1-0 to kill the contest.

He said: "The result is a pity but I have told the players they must be
proud of their performance.

"When you are 1-0 up and have one or two clear chances to score another
goal then you must take it. If we'd scored from one of our chances then
I think we would have won the game.

"It was difficult for us to control the game early on but once we
reorganised the team I thought we did much better and matched them.

"Our defence worked hard and the goalkeeper played well. It was just a
pity we let them back into the game in the manner we did. We were
unlucky today.

"We have to analyse the game and look at things but I say again that the
players must be proud of their performance. They had a good game."

Steven Gerrard has insisted his Liverpool team-mates must pick
themselves up from their Cup Final disappointment and 'stay strong' for
the rest of the season.

Gerrard admitted he was devastated after scoring the own goal ten
minutes from time.

But he says the Reds must now forget about their Cardiff frustrations
and ensure they have something to celebrate at the end of the season.

He said: "We just have to pick ourselves up now and play for other
things. It's a tough day for us but we have to get over it.

"We scored early, maybe too early, and then tried to run the clock down.
We were ten minutes away from winning the Cup ourselves but credit to
Chelsea, they played well.

"It's obviously very painful for me to score the own goal. It's been a
bad day for me and the team but we have to pick ourselves up now and
stay strong."

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