Without a hint of irony, 18 - 4 astounded uk.sport.football.clubs.liverpool at 23:52:39 on 13-04-2005 by announcing:
"Obviously it is a painful defeat, not just for me but for everyone at the club because getting to the end of the Champions League is very important to this club.
"I have to congratulate Rafa, tactically he was clever. He decided to play very defensively but his team followed his plans very well.
"They left us very little room to work in, there was hardly any chances and Liverpool were excellent in the way they played.
"It wasn't true what was said prior to this game that Liverpool were weaker than our previous opponents Real Madrid.
"They confirmed they are a very strong team, unbeatable in the air, they deserved to go through because they defended the result they achieved in the opening leg and we did nothing.
"Obviously it is disappointing because to go as far as possible in the Champions League was the objective for both me and the club.
BBC's ratingdo you agree???? too stingy, in my opinion... Liverpool player ratings Marks out of 10...
"I did all I could, I put out the team that I considered appropriate but Liverpool defended well. We had no space.
"I think a draw would have been a fair result in both games but I have to congratulate Rafael Benitez, because it's his team that have gone through.
Gerrard vs Chelskiagainst chelsea, Stevie has not been his own impressive self, commanding authority in the middle of the pitch, we can be difficult for us. Any thoughts...
"Had Zlatan Ibrahimovic been able to score in the first half obviously it would have made it much easier."
-- "I think the league table is a pretty good barometer of how you are doing." - Kevin Keegan
