[lfc-news] Benitez picks up pieces - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 4 Mar 2005
Benitez picks up pieces
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ has needed to put on his bravest face while preparing
Liverpool for their latest 'must win' fixture at Newcastle tomorrow.

Raising morale at a club deflated by the events in last week's Carling
Cup is arguably Benitez's grimmest task so far.

If defeat to Chelsea wasn't bad enough, the distractions of a reported
tantrum by one of his star strikers, and the mood of his distraught
skipper, means Benitez's antennae ought to be pointed in numerous
directions.

For Steven Gerrard, there are powerful words of support from the
manager, who predicts the despair of Cardiff will motivate his captain
to end the season on top form.

Milan Baros, however, must take heed of the kind of coded warning the
gaffer is making with increased regularity.

The Czech star has been told to make his statements on the pitch, and
ensure he stays in the side by producing performances which warrant
regular selection.

With the Champions League and qualification for next year's competition
still to play for, Benitez is in no mood to babysit stroppy players.

"It's true he was not happy because he was not playing, but we don't
have any problem with Milan," said Benitez.

"There's been a lot of talking but the most important thing is to work
hard. I've spoken to Milan. He knows he scored a lot of goals before his
injury problem, but since then he's needed goals.

"He needs to be focused on the game and playing well. By working hard
and showing his best, the goals will come.

"When a player doesn't play it's because another team mates is needed.
I'm sure he understands now that the most important thing is the team
because the better the side plays, the more he will score goals in future.

"As a manager you must think about the whole squad and always pick the
side to do the right job on the day. In the Champions League we will
lose a lot of players, like Morientes, for example and we need Milan to
be at his best.

"In the first half on Sunday, we did a very good job with the side we
picked. Because Milan is a quick player we thought we'd have more space
in the second half which would suit him more and cause problems for
their defence. That was our idea.

"Unfortunately, we had two injured players in Harry Kewell and Djimi
Traore, who we had to change. That was not our plan."

Benitez believes the game turned against Liverpool because they didn't
keep possession well enough in the second half.

But having gone so close to silverware with a side in the first stage of
reconstruction, Benitez is adamant a stronger Liverpool won't make the
same mistakes under his command in the future.

"We were very close to a trophy and despite our problems throughout the
season, we've been close in every game against Chelsea this season," he
said.

"If we can change just two or three details about the way we played last
week, we know we will win those kind of games in future.

"For me, it's a challenge to win trophies here and, if it's possible, I
will work even harder to make it happen after what happened last weekend.

"I could see how important it was to our supporters. They proved in
Cardiff they are the best and loudest fans and I want to bring trophies
here for them.

"They know we can do it. In six months I promise we will be a much
better side. They see the problems we've had in our first year, but in
all the games we've played against Chelsea, who are the best team in the
country at this moment, every game has been close."

Benitez hopes the Carling Cup will be a fading memory by tomorrow
evening, describing the next Premiership encounter as 'one of the most
important games of the season'.

He said: "We know how important each game is now, but tomorrow is
particularly so for two reasons. First, because we've lost an important
game and we need to get our heads up quickly. The other things is we've
a Champions League match next week and sometimes players can lose their
concentration by thinking too far ahead.

"We need to realise this is our most important match. It will be very
difficult for us at Newcastle.

"The difference to fourth is eight points, but if we keep strong we can
reduce this gap. If Everton continue to win we know it's going to be
difficult for us, but they must play at Liverpool.

"If we win our games and defeat them, the table will look better for us."