Dont' call me SPECIAL

Rafa: 'Don't call me Special One' Friday May 27 2005

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may have repeated Jose Mourinho's feat in winning the Champions League but he has none of his arrogance.

Mourinho arrived at Chelsea last summer proclaming himself to be 'The Special One' - but Benitez has already rejected such claims, saying he has a long way to go to emulate Liverpool's legendary managers.

He led Liverpool to perhaps their greatest European victory on Wednesday night when they came back from 3-0 down at half-time to beat AC Milan on penalties.

Benitez has to take a large slice of credit for changing his tactics and personnel as the Reds pulled off a brilliant victory, but the Spaniard is more than a little modest.

"As a manager you are important sometimes and you make mistakes, but the most important people are your staff and your players. Never call me the special one!" said Benitez.

"I am one step closer to what the other managers achieved, that's all. I have to do a lot more before I am considered on the same level.

"Now it's important to build on this success. When you see the supporters and how the club works it is like a religion to them. We will try to do our best to bring more trophies back for them."

Benitez has already suggested that there are changes to make before next season as they attempt to finish higher than fifth in the Premiership.

"We have a lot of good players but now we need to find players in the positions where we need to improve the team," said Benitez.

"We cannot change everything but there will be changes. The interesting thing now we have won the European Cup is that other players will see we have a good team and they will want to come to us." -- "Luis Garcia laughed off suggestions that a Spanish referee would help the Reds in the CL final."