[lfc-news] Benitez unconcerned by Milan taunts - PA

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PA Sport, 21 May 2005
BENITEZ UNCONCERNED BY MILAN TAUNTS

Rafael Benitez has told his Liverpool stars to close their ears to
criticism coming out of the AC Milan camp.

The Italian giants have been quick this week to decry Liverpool as
boring and defensive.

But the Anfield chief insists he is not listening, and he wants the same
reaction from his players as they prepare for Wednesday's Champions
League final in Istanbul.

He said: "I am not interested in what people say about us, certainly not
before the game. Afterwards, maybe. I am only concerned with preparation
and winning, and it is not important what people say, and I don't need
any more motivation.

"You should not lose your concentration talking or worrying about things
that are said. It is 90 minutes against a good team, they have weak
points, we have weak points, we need to be strong and to profit from
their weak points."

Liverpool's fifth-place finish in the Barclays Premiership has also been
cause for insults from Milan.

But Benitez insists he is not surprised his team are in the European
final, and claims they are better in cups than league matches.

He said: "I am frustrated with the Premier League form but happy with
the Champions League. I have great confidence in my staff and when you
see how the players train then you have great confidence that we can win
many games.

"That is why I am not so surprised that we have got to this stage in
Europe, but I am surprised that we have lost 11 away games in the league."

And Benitez has also warned his players not to take much notice of
Milan's problems in beating PSV Eindhoven in the semi-finals.

Benitez said: "I am not worried about how Milan played in their
semi-final, or the fact that people say they struggled against PSV. But
I know that they still won because they have good quality players, and
sometimes if the team does not play well it is down to the best players
as individuals to make sure that the team does win.

"They did not play too well but they still won and are in the final,
that is really all you need to know."

As for the difference between Liverpool's league and European form,
Benitez added: "We have played better in the Champions League than in
the Premiership. It is another style of football.

"It is different, you are not playing for three points, it is a cup tie
and in the group stages even if you lose a game or two you can still
qualify.

"After that in the knockout it is again different. Some teams play
better over nine months and some play better in cups, and I hope we will
do the same in the final."

Benitez is acutely aware of the might and massive experience Milan will
bring to the final.

But he said: "To have experience is always important, even more so in
these type of games. But for us we have nothing to lose and a lot of
things that can help us win.

"Yes, look at Milan, look at Maldini with seven finals. Okay, it is the
first time for us and we want to play seven more finals as well. This is
our first one, and we want to win it very badly.

"This is the mentality we need for the final, we cannot think of what
happens if we lose. We are there, it may be a surprise for a lot of
people but we intend to only do our job right and not to think about
anything else."

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