[lfc-news] Ian Rush column - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 1 Mar 2005
Reds have to put cup heartache to one side
By Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

THERE is no point Liverpool feeling sorry for themselves. They can't
afford to.

Losing the Carling Cup final was a massive disappointment, but the Reds
have two other big games coming up.

They have to think positively. They are still in the Champions League
and are competing for fourth spot in the Premiership.

They are scoring goals regularly and the right results against Newcastle
on Saturday and Bayer Leverkusen next week will really lift them.

The players have to believe they will be successful. Everton are not
untouchable and a Champions League quarter-final is not beyond Rafa's men.

Although it was a great goal from Riise, they probably scored too early
at Cardiff. It took Chelsea some time to get going, but when they did
they kept coming at the Reds. To hold on for 20 minutes is one thing,
but to try and do it for 90 minutes is much harder.

If Gerrard had made it 2-0 in the second half that would have killed the
game off and Milan Baros had half a chance near the end.

No doubt Baros will have been disappointed to start on the bench, as any
player would. However, cup finals are tiring games and a manager can't
just rely on his starting eleven. He needs fresh legs to call on and
Baros looked lively when he replaced Morientes.

Jerzy Dudek has had his critics recently, but he kept Liverpool in the
game with some good saves. You have to keep faith with him.

* JAMIE CARRAGHER was my man of the match at Cardiff. He was different
class.

It baffles me that he is not involved more in the England team. No one
knows his best position because he is so good wherever he plays.

He is a great utility man and would be an important member of any side.
He is also a great lad to have in the dressing room.

Jose still has a lot to learn

ALTHOUGH I was at the final, I must admit I didn't see Jose Mourinho's
antics on the touchline.

If he really was gesturing to the Liverpool fans then he deserves all he
gets.

If, like he claims, he was aiming it at those in the press box who have
been on his back recently then that's a bit different.

He should realise, though, that any manager will get criticism. You just
have to take the rough with the smooth.

Mourinho is a great manager. Speaking to the Chelsea players after the
game they all love him.

But he still has things to learn about the English game.

More City frustration

IT was a bad weekend all round for me.

Like Rafael Benitez, I'm left to lift my players after a 5-0 defeat to
Shrewsbury.

We have no money available to strengthen the side, so we can only work
with the players we have.

We will have a team meeting to get the thoughts of the lads. I have
always thought it important to let players have their say. It brings
everyone closer and managers can learn things from it.

Like Liverpool we can't afford to feel sorry for ourselves after a
defeat like that. We just have to work hard in order to improve things.

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