[lfc-news] Rule out those lazy hazy days, of summer - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 22 April 2005
Rule out those lazy hazy days, of summer
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

THE Liverpool squad's reward if they reach the Champions League final is
the briefest summer holiday in Anfield history.

Rafa Benitez has told his players he'll expect them to report back for
pre-season training on June 27.

With the European Cup final held in Istanbul on May 25, victory over
Chelsea would leave just over a month off in between the end of this
campaign and the beginning of stage two of Benitez's rebuilding programme.

For a number of the England stars, such as Jamie Carragher and Steven
Gerrard, the rest will be even shorter.

They're due to participate in an energy sapping, meaningless tour of
America on international duty at the start of June, unless they can
acquire the same convenient doctor's note as the Manchester United
contingent before boarding the plane.

Benitez's decision to rip up the traditional pre-season schedule comes
as no suprise. The football obsessed manager has no time for the closed
season and expects his playing staff to be chomping at the bit after
their summer break.

The new strategy is a further show of intent as he stamps his authority
on a club undergoing a fundamental change in culture under his command.

It's understood the Spanish boss was less than impressed with the
fitness levels when he took over last July.

Many of the players he inherited were on international duty at Euro 2004
at the time, but the fringe members of the squad required an intensive
physical conditioning course, which Benitez hopes to render unnecessary
this summer.

By ending the closed season for his players two weeks earlier than
usual, Benitez has revealed he's already meticulously planning ahead for
a vast improvement next term.

The current campaign is destined to end in dramatic fashion, regardless
of the destiny of Liverpool's domestic and European hopes, but Benitez
insists he must always keep one eye on the future.

"We've told the players our idea is to start pre-season on June 27 at
Melwood," explained the coach..

"We will spend some time there and then head for another country. We are
thinking of heading to Switzerland for a training camp.

"We need to train harder at the start and change the culture of
pre-season here. If we sign new players after June 27, they will have to
start afresh.

"But I want all the players to show the right mentality from the very
beginning of pre-season and this will make it easier for them throughout
the rest of the year.

"I'm sure you will see a fitter, stronger Liverpool next season."

It's not only the fitness levels Benitez believes will improve. The last
three fixtures have exposed the style of football Benitez intends to
become the blueprint for the rest of reign.

Xabi Alonso's return has been crucial to a more attractive game, but the
manager is relishing finally having selection dilemmas in all areas of
the park, not just in midfield.

"When you see the kind of performance against Portsmouth, you can see
what's possible when you have a lot of options in your squad," says Benitez.

"It makes it a lot easier for me. I'm sure we would have performed a lot
better throughout the season had we had the same number of players
available.

"It's true the season may be ending at the wrong time for us. Now we are
starting to do things properly. The team has a lot more confidence, but
the problem has been the same all season.

"When you only have a limited number of players in certain positions,
and they must play every week, it's harder to maintain the kind of tempo
we want in our style of play.

"I have a lot of confidence for next season. I know the English league
better and I know exactly the kind of players we need to improve. I also
hope we won't have as many injury problems next season as we've had this
time."

For all the optimism ahead of next year, there's still good reason to be
hopeful about the last month of the current campaign.

Liverpool begin an 11-day period which may determine whether Benitez's
debut is labelled an extraordinary success, or merely an encouraging start.

The pursuit of fourth is firmly in someone else's hands, but Liverpool
are ready to pounce on any mistakes.

"We will fight until the last game and we're not giving up," said Benitez.

"Our spirit is as good now as it's been all season."

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