[lfc-news] We can rule the world - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 19 Aug 2005
We can rule the world
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ has declared he wants his Liverpool side to rule the world.

The Reds have now confirmed they intend to compete in December's World
Club championships, after planning to withdraw from the event due to
fixture congestion.

But an Anfield rethink will see Liverpool participating in Japan in a
tournament Benitez says his side will be fully committed to winning.

Liverpool's squad has always been excited by the prospect of becoming
world champions, but it's the timing of the FIFA event which has caused
most concern.

The Reds first game will be in Yokohama on December 15 against either
Sydney FC or Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica.

"We feel we must go to Japan," said Benitez today.

"Looking at the Premiership fixtures, we will have to rearrange only one
league game. Because we are European champions, I think it's good for us
to be there.

"The problem has always been the number of games for us this season, not
because we don't want to go. For the club and the players, it will be a
great experience to play against teams from other continents.

"Obviously when you have a lot of fixtures, it's not easy, but we'll be
positive about it. There was once a time when the European Cup wasn't as
big as it is now.

"Maybe in years to come, this competition will have grown. It will be
good for us if in years to come people see Liverpool has won the World
Championship."

Benitez welcomed his international contingent back yesterday. There
appear to be no new injury problems.

The Spanish boss is maintaining his usual silence on transfer
speculation, but it's clear the Reds are not closing in on any of their
targets at this stage.

"We are still working, but it's not easy," admitted Benitez. "We have
different options, but you never know what will happen. The agents say
one thing, the clubs another. For now, we still need to wait."

On the plus side, Benitez revealed striker Peter Crouch has made rapid
progress from hamstring trouble and could even have made a shock
comeback tomorrow if he wasn't suspended.

"Most of the players will be fit soon," he said. "Crouch is better now.
Maybe tomorrow would have been too soon, but he wasn't allowed to play
anyway. We will check on him next week.

"He's training again and when I speak to him he says he's fine and wants
to play. For sure I think he will be able to play next weekend in the
Super Cup, but we'll see. "Harry Kewell is in Portugal undergoing more
treatment, but we're still not sure when he will be fit."

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