[lfc-news] Benitez: I'll stay for 20 years - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 5 May 2005
Benitez: I'll stay for 20 years
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL boss Rafa Benitez has confidently predicted this month's
Champions League final will be the first of many in a '20 year'
managerial career at Anfield.

Benitez has his sights on creating a legacy the equal of his illustrious
predecessors, and with comments which will thrill his adoring followers
says he hopes to spend two decades at the helm at Liverpool.

The Reds will face AC Milan in Istanbul on May 25 following the
Italians' dramatic 3-3 away goal victory over PSV Eindhoven.

But whatever the outcome later this month, Benitez is sure he'll lead
his club into many more European Cup finals.

"As a manager I'm young and if I'm at Liverpool for another 20 years, I
hope to reach many more finals and win many more trophies," said Benitez.

"I don't know if I'll be here that long, but I hope so. When you're
happy here, you're winning and you see the supporters, why wouldn't you
want to stay for so long?

"I was expecting the club to be like this when I joined, but only when I
experienced nights like the Arsenal and Olympiakos matches did I realise
how good it was.

"On Tuesday people spoke about the St Etienne match in 1977, but for us
this is more important because it's about now and the future. I've never
seen supporters like those against Chelsea. It was fantastic."

UEFA have confirmed Liverpool will get to keep the current European Cup
if they can beat the Italian giants.

Clubs who win the Champions League three times on the run or, as it
would be in Liverpool's case, lift the trophy five times, get to keep it.

Whether the club would get to defend it next season, however, remains
unclear.

The FA were today expected to confirm they'll be backing the side which
finishes fourth in the Premiership for the final qualification spot,
regardless of the result in Istanbul.

However the FA are appealing also for Liverpool, should they win in
Turkey, to be given an extra 'fifth' place so they could defend the
trophy next season. UEFA President Lennart Johansson has already
indicated such a plea could be granted.

Although their regulations stipulate that a maximum of four sides from
any one country can take part in Europe's elite club competition,
Johansson has made it clear UEFA's executive committee do have the power
to over-rule and enforce any changes.

However, they will not take any action until after the final itself.

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