Benitez focused on winning title
Apr 5 2006
By Tommy Smith, Liverpool Echo
JUST as much as he will be plotting for a big finish to the season, hopefully culminating in an FA Cup win, Rafa Benitez will have been devoting some time in recent months to the future.
Liverpool's league campaign has been a great improvement on the previous season, but I believe the Reds boss will still be dissatisfied that they have not been able to keep pace with Chelsea at the top.
Benitez' Reds on landmark courseBenitez' Reds on landmark course Apr 5 2006 By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo RAFA BENITEZ can underline the vast improvement he's inspired at Anfield by leading Liverpool to...
Benitez knows that the next few months will be crucial to the team's long term future - who goes, who stays, who comes in - and I feel he has that ruthless streak in him that all top managers need to be successful.
While fans enjoyed European success last season and, hopefully, an FA Cup triumph this, his number one priority is to bring the Premiership to Anfield.
His determination to succeed has been underlined by his commitment to stay at Anfield and he has already made moves to strengthen his squad for next season with the likes of Gonzalez and Paletta.
Having players who can cause problems out wide are essential. Djibril Cisse was used there to effect against West Brom, but he doesn't have the consistency Benitez needs.
Bill Shankly had to be ruthless when he broke up the famous Sixties team, and Bob Paisley was, too, although seem-ingly a friend to everyone at the time!
The challenge next season will be there to match Chelsea, United and Arsenal.
Reds fans will see more changes in the summer. There has to be and rest buttured that the manager knows what is required.
IF the FA Cup semi-final was being played this week I would be extremely confident of victory. There are three main reasons for that:
The Reds are playing well and scoring goals again; Chelsea are not half as good this season as last; and Rafa Benitez is a far better tactician than Jose Mourinho.
The Londoners were expected to walk away with the title this season, but I think they are going to have to step up a few gears to overcome United's late charge.
Last season, Chelsea were hard to break down. When possession was lost, everyone was quick to get behind the ball, and rivals found scoring extremely difficult.
Now other teams are using the same tactics against them and their play is looking onedimensional as they try to combat that.
Mourinho is going to have to work out a new system. When they start struggling in matches they look devoid of ideas.
Chances at a premiumI don't think we really clicked into gear until the 2nd half, They could have had 2 goals in what was a very scrappy 1st half. It was a well taken strike by...
They have adopted a siege mentality this season on the basis of everybody being against them, but they have not lost that over confidence, almost of believing they had a God-given right to the title. That could backfire.
Benitez has shown during his time at Anfield that he can change tactics mid-game if necessary to give the side greater options.
The Champions League final was one example, the latest derby win when Steven Gerrard was sent off was another.
The pressure on Chelsea seems to be showing, but Rafa and his Reds seem to revel on pressure.
