Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings - Page 364

79Guards · #**5446** 19-02-2008, 10:07 PM

Let's all hope Liverpool will win tonight, no matter what we are all behind the team all the way!

ANDYSIAO14 · #**5447** 19-02-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafael Benitez

On the day of Liverpool's biggest match of the season manager Rafael Benitez has launched a passionate defence of his Anfield record and insisted he is the man to lead the Reds to more glory.
Saturday's Cup exit to Barnsley has led to much speculation over the manager's future but, despite admitting there have been setbacks this season, he is adamant progress will continue to be made under his leadership at the club.

"I have a lot of confidence that I will stay here for a long time, because my commitment is 100% with the club and I am sure that we can improve," said the Anfield manager.

"I think the club are 100% committed to me also. I don't have any suggestion the other way.

"I have two years left on my contract and I'm sure I will be here for a long time. I have confidence I will be here for a long time and we will win trophies.

"I am sure that I can win more titles for this club because I have a clear idea about what to do in the future.

"We will need to change things. Maybe I will change things but it is clear I have the confidence to do it.

"We have a lot of young players that are progressing. I know we need to improve in some areas, that is clear, and especially when you have bad comments you can see the character of everyone.

"And that is a good thing for the future, to see how everyone responds to the problems."

He added: "I understand why I am under pressure, but I'm surprised I am being asked the same question (on whether he needs to win the Champions League to save his job).

"How many managers have won the Champions League one time? Tell me. How many have got to the final twice in three years or won it twice? Think about the top managers in the Premier League and their record.

"When I arrived here it was 21 years without winning the Champions League and 15 years without winning the Premier League. Why? Now we know we are improving, seven finals in three years, but still we need to improve."

liverpoolfctv

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres looked ahead to this evening's massive Champions League test with Inter Milan and admitted: "This is why I signed for Liverpool."

Despite his standing as one of world football's top strikers, the Spanish hitman has never played a match in the last sixteen of the Champions League and is relishing the challenge of taking on Italy's finest at Anfield tonight.

"This is a very big game for the fans and for us," said Torres. "I came here to play in this type of game, in the Champions League and in other competitions.

"Inter Milan are a very good team but I think we can beat them. Why not?"

Torres is well aware of Liverpool's recent history in the competition and is determined to help fire them along the road to Moscow this time around.

He said: "Reaching two Champions League Finals in three years is an incredible achievement.

"It takes something special to do that and you don't do that unless you have a very good manager.

"That is another reason why I came to Liverpool, to work with the manager, and I have learned a lot from him since I joined."

He added: "We have an opportunity to get an important win. The supporters, the players, the staff at Liverpool are like a big family.

"It is a different mentality to most other clubs and we need to play like a team tonight.

"Big teams win the important games and we are a big team. After losing to Marseille at home we knew we had to beat Porto at home and then win in Marseille and in both games we played really, really well.

"We scored four goals against Porto and four against Marseille. This is what Liverpool can do and we need to do it again in a big game against Inter Milan.

"We were third in our group, we needed to win our games and we did. I also saw Liverpool beat Barcelona in the Champions League last season. That was also a big game, Liverpool played very, very well and got a great result. To win 2-1 away at Barcelona is a big result.

"They were the best team in the world when it comes to ability because they have so many great players but Liverpool played like a team and if you play like a team you can win every game against every team. If we play like a team tonight then we can win, for sure.

"I think this tie is a bit different though because the first game is at Anfield in front of our own fans.

"But it is important to get a similar result because of our position in the league and because we are out of both cups."

liverpoolfctv

ALL THE BEST MIGHTY REDS

picu · #**5448** 20-02-2008, 03:26 AM

Torres: Rotation not the source of Reds' problems

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres insists the Reds have made progress this season and does not believe Rafael Benitez's rotation policy has affected the team's momentum.

The Anfield club head into tonight's crucial Champions League second round first-leg clash with Inter Milan in dire need of a positive performance after Saturday's embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Barnsley.

Failure to see off the Serie A champions and leaders over two legs would leave the Merseysiders with little to play for aside from fourth place in the Barclays Premier League - and leave manager Benitez clinging to his job by his fingernails.

The current malaise is a far cry from the early months of the season when it seemed Liverpool were finally poised to mount a genuine title challenge.

But despite that bid long since faltering, Torres - one of the few summer signings to justify the pre-season hype - still sees signs of progress.

'If you look at the stats, this season is better than last season,' he told The Times.

'The problem is that people asked us to win the Premier League this year.

'There is a progression, I don't think it's a bad season. We started wanting to win everything, but, as it progresses, you are forced to change your targets.'

Torres does not believe Benitez's preference for chopping and changing his side has been a factor in the stalling of the Reds' season.

'When things don't go the way one wishes, people look for things to blame,' he added.

'We have a manager with a philosophy that people knew before he came and one that has succeeded.

'It is very opportunistic to blame rotation for everything that goes wrong. It is not a problem for us. Liverpool have won a Champions League, FA Cup and so on with rotation.

'It is normal to rest. We players never want to, but if the manager says so, you have to. If everybody accepts that is the way forward, the atmosphere doesn't suffer.'

ESPNsoccernet

Even Torres is backing Benitez, so shouldn't we do the same?

Like bro ANDYSIAO14, all the best to Liverpool!!!

rahl · #**5449** 20-02-2008, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regaine

These I too have been saying all along The players get rotated so much that they don't know each other. Then how could you pass the ball well? No wonders our strikers are always off target.

I have already said to you in an earlier post there's only so far we can argue. At this point, it's only the results that will matter now.

rahl · #**5450** 20-02-2008, 04:20 AM

Materazzi the head banger is off!!!

Thank you Torres

picu · #**5451** 20-02-2008, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rahl

Materazzi the head banger is off!!!

Thank you Torres

Yep, now to hopefully capitalize on it

Xgenre · #**5452** 20-02-2008, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picu

Yep, now to hopefully capitalize on it

Ya, the idea, that we wun face him in the 2nd leg too, makes me happy!

My first thought when the ref sent him off was that Inter will be a very difficult team to beat now. They will close shop, try not to concede a goal in this leg, or try for an Italian sucker punch, the classic counter attack.

We should sub Kuyt with Crouch. With Crouch's height and the dismissal of their centreforward, we will bully them into panic and making mistakes. Gerrard or Torres to score from a Crouch knock-down. Followed by a Crouch overhead kick!