[lfc-news] The Carragher clone factory - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 15 June 2005
The Carragher clone factory
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ is aiming to put the passion back into Anfield - by signing
a team of Jamie Carraghers!

The Reds' boss has adopted the Kop chant as his policy in the transfer
marker this summer.

Throughout last season's Champions League winning campaign, the Anfield
faithful sang: "We all dream of a team of Carraghers!"

And Benitez has said: "I want to go to the market thinking about players
with passion as well as ability, then I know that we will do better
things in the future.

"My plan is to improve the reserve team for next season and to have some
more players ready for the first team.

"As a big club you need to increase your level to look for the best
players in the world, and we are trying to find some players for
different positions. But the most important thing is to find skilful
players and players with character.

"If we want to increase our level away from home we need that type of
player to suit our style of play.

"You need players like Jamie Carragher, for example, with passion. We
are trying to find, if possible, both.

"I have said many times Carragher has been the best defender in England
this season - he is maybe more important than John Terry at Chelsea."

Carragher's place in Benitez's plans is assured, but Liverpool's player
of the season is taking nothing for granted.

"Playing for Liverpool always puts you under pressure because you
realise the club is always going to be linked with good players," he
explained.

"They're one of the top clubs in Europe and always looking to improve
the team. But you only have to look at the Treble team.

"The players had great success, but a season after that, half the team
was gone and now the club is looking to improve again. My motivation is
just to make sure I am always in the team whoever they bring in.

"We want to qualify for the Champions League group stages, but we also
want to challenge for the league next time."

Boss Benitez hopes that aim can be achieved, by improving the output
from a number of key figures next season.

The Spanish conquistador went on: "Cisse is a quick player. We need to
see that when he is fit and that, hopefully, will be next season.

"Morientes has not really been fit because he went six months without
playing at Real Madrid. But we have confidence in him because he is a
skilful player who is good in the air.

"Here in England it is more physical, and he needs to improve his
physical level, but we will see the best of Fernando next season.

"Luis Garcia scored good goals in Spain. He scored 16 goals for me when
I managed Tenerife in the second division, and he likes to score more.

"Steven Gerrard is a key player for us. He's the captain, but although
he's so good, he can play better.

"I am sure he is not very happy with his season because he knows that he
can play better.

"We lost Gerrard and Xabi for three months and it was difficult for
Steve with all the rumours circulating about his future. But next season
will be different for both of them."

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