From The Times
August 8, 2008
Rafael Benitez rues 'curse' of Istanbul triumph
James Ducker
It would be exaggerating to suggest that Liverpool's Champions League triumph in 2005 has hung like a noose around Rafael Benítez's neck since, but the manager admits that, in one respect, he could have done without the problems that the “Miracle of Istanbul” inadvertently created for him. “In some ways made things more difficult because the expectations became so high,” Benítez says.
“Then we won the European Super Cup and FA Cup the following season and so suddenly everyone was saying, 'OK, the next step will be the Premier League title.' But then, when you don't win it, people say, 'Oh, you can't go to that next step,' when, maybe, we were operating at the next level up, but because the other teams around us were progressing as well, it didn't seem that way.
“In some respects, we were maybe our own worst enemies, but, of course, I'd prefer to have that problem, to be talking as a Champions League winner. People are talking now about us not having won the league for 18 years, but it was 21 years since this club had last won the European Cup.”
It is perhaps the ultimate irony of Benítez's reign at Anfield that, while his squad has grown in strength with each season that has passed, he has still to scale the heights of that debut campaign. With every summer comes the hope that Liverpool will mount a serious assault on the title, only for the dream to fizzle out long before the advent of May. So will Benítez's fifth season in charge be any different?
Having been if not bruised, then certainly enlightened by his experiences, Benítez is too savvy to make rash predictions, but as he held court during a rare interview at Liverpool's Melwood training ground yesterday, there was a clear conviction to his words.
After four years of wheeling and dealing, reshaping a squad that bears next to no resemblance to the one that he inherited from Gérard Houllier - only Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Steve Finnan, who may be on his way soon, remain - Benítez feels that he is at a point where he can launch a credible challenge for what he believes is the hardest competition to win in football.
Breaking the Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly under similar circumstances with Valencia in Spain was one thing, but trying to overhaul Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal is another, according to the Spaniard. “It's clear that we are going in the right direction and progressing,” he says. “We have got good young players coming through who will be important, while those with experience are settling down now so it could be a very good season for us.
“The key is not to say that we can win the title because it's clear that it's the most difficult league in the world to win. Look at the final of the Champions League last season, it was between Chelsea and United, who are at the top of the table in England.
“Everybody can see that the team and squad is improving every year and that now we are much better, but will that be enough to win the title? That's the big question because it depends on the other teams as well.
“I can't control what United, Chelsea or Arsenal do. Every year I'm trying to do the right things, but so are they. Is it going to be enough? I don't know.” Benítez rejects the notion that Chelsea changing managers, Arsenal losing players and United's gruelling fixture list up to Christmas may benefit his team - “We have no great advantage” - and he insists that his players cannot afford to hope for favours.
Fernando Torres and Gerrard will again be crucial, but while Benítez expects the arrival of Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur and, he hopes, Gareth Barry, whose prospective transfer from Aston Villa remains in limbo, to help to ease the burden, the manager believes that Liverpool's title ambitions will rest just as heavily on players such as Daniel Agger, much missed through injury last season, Martin Skrtel, Lucas Leiva and Ryan Babel stepping up a level.
Benítez also hopes to blood one or two of the club's emerging talents, such as Krisztian Nemeth or Damien Plessis, although what Liverpool probably need most this season is to avoid a repeat of the off-field troubles that blighted the previous campaign.
Whether Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the club's controversial co-owners, can be trusted not to turn another season into a soap opera remains to be seen - uncertainty over funding for the proposed new stadium in Stanley Park may render that impossible - but Benítez is at least hoping for a period of peace.
“It's important for all teams to be focused solely on things on the pitch, because that way you get the best from each player, because they don't have distractions and aren't always reading bad news about their club,” he says. “The best way for all clubs to do things is not to create too much bad news.”
What Liverpool supporters can be assured of is that Benítez's hunger is stronger than ever. He may occasionally be frustrated that he does not have the financial muscle that Mr. Ferguson has at United or Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea, but the desire to reward the fans who worship him makes walking away unthinkable.
“Since I arrived here you can see that the fans are amazing and support you 100 per cent,” Benítez says. “It might be similar at other clubs, but this one is very special, it's different.
“Last season, when I had problems and people were talking, the supporters were absolutely amazing to me so I have to do my best every day because I have a responsibility to give something back to them.” We all know what he has in mind.
Rafael Benítez was promoting the LIVE coverage of Liverpool's friendly against Lazio tonight, available exclusively on LFC TV, and Liverpool's opening game of the season against Sunderland, exclusively live on Setanta Sports, August 16.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4481652.ece