probably already posted
Liverpool's defensive rock salutes the foundations for further Euro glory laid by Benitez
By Nick Townsend, Chief Sports Writer
Published: 11 March 2007
Outside Anfield, a five-strong group of "cardinals" was swinging a smoking censer before an image of Rafa Benitez. The Liverpool fans, clad in crimson cassocks, were calling for the Spaniard's canonisation. And that was even before Liverpool dispatched the European champions, Barcelona. "In Saint Rafa we trust" was their message, at a time when others would be rather more chuffed if Bob Paisley were to receive nothing more grandiose than a posthumous knighthood.
Inside, the new American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, evidently decided that any game your soccer team lose and yetstill go through to the next round is, well, hey fella, one heck of a sport in which to invest.
Once the game started, the throaty roar of Anfield's 12th man made its usual significant contribution. PSV Eindhoven, and then, possibly, Chelsea once more, was the reward in Friday's draw. The Dutch team may have eliminated Arsenal, but you cannot imagine Liverpool being so compliant. They beat PSV 2-0 at home, after a draw away, in the group stage. From whichever perspective you view the future at Anfield - "religious" fanatics, multi-millionaires from the US or the Kop faithful - things are looking auspicious.
The Americans' £470 million injection of new money will enable Liverpool to construct their new stadium in Stanley Park, cancel £80m of debt, and allow Benitez partly to reconstruct his team. Assuming he is still here. Success breeds not just success but envy, and ultimately enticement from those who covet him. Benitez, who has demonstrated a greater affinity with European competition than with the rather different demands of the Premiership, will no doubt receive entreaties from his homeland.
Jamie Carragher, who with the increasingly impressive Daniel Agger yielded Barça few opportunities on Tuesday, when a 1-0 defeat was sufficient to see Liverpool through after that 2-1 first-leg victory, is confident that Benitez would not be tempted. "Not for me," Carragher said. "He wouldn't get anything better than Liverpool, or I wouldn't think so!" And in a pointed reference to certain clubs here and in Spain, he added: "He can buy his own players here.
"He's one of the best managers around. He proved that at Valencia, and he's already proved it here. Hopefully we can go on again over the next few years and win more things." And establish a dynasty similar to that of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger? "I hope so. All the players enjoy working with him. I'm sure you can see the difference he's made over the last few years, especially in Europe. Next season we want to push on and do well in the Premiership as well."
Neither Benitez nor Gérard Houllier before him have exactly been in an impoverished state, yet the American input - confirmed when it was announced on Friday that Gillett and Hicks had acquired 80.7 per cent of the club's shares - will raise potential expenditure on personnel to a new level. Strikers are likely to be the main thrust of Liverpool's summer spending, with players in Serie A reportedly coming under particular scrutiny. They include Juventus's David Trezeguet and Valeri Bojinov, Udinese's Vincenzo Iaquinta and Palermo's Amauri.
But what of the conclusion to this season? Tuesday was a night when the myriad talents of their visitors proved incapable of deflecting Liverpool from what they believe is their destiny: a date in Athens in May. Barça's imperfections were all the more vivid because of their fluorescent shirts, which made them look like ground crew at John Lennon Airport. There were passages of beautifully fluent technique from Lionel Messi, Deco and Ronaldinho, but an inexcusable absence of end product until Eidur Gudjohnsen emerged.
Now there is a quiet belief that Istanbul could repeat itself. "The Anfield factor is massive," said Carragher. "Over the years, that's got to be up there, along with the [2005] final, as one of our best results. Because for me Barcelona are still the best team in the world. We're not going to kid ourselves. I'd still say Barcelona are a better side than us. We're not the best team in Europe. But it's not always the best team that wins a knockout competition."
That candour is not false modesty. But it is true that Liverpool have perfected a way of navigating around Europe that Arsenal, for one, would love to replicate.
And they possess Carragher, a defender in supreme form. Not a first-choice England selection, it must be stressed. John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are still ahead of him. But as a club performer, when his team are under duress, there is no one better. "I'm doing all right," he said, with a shrug. "You're playing against the best players in the world and that's made me a better player. That, and working with the manager. Going into the middle has given me more responsibility. But it's a team effort and the back four, with Pepe Reina behind us, have done well to keep them out - until the Gudjohnsen goal."
Reina will confirm what Carragher prefers to downplay. "Jamie?" he said. "He's like a rock. Very safe. He's one of the best centre-backs in the world. In the squad we do not have one captain. We have several players, and Jamie is one." And no language difficulties between Scouser and Spaniard? "I have had my problems, but our communications are improving!" the goalkeeper added with a laugh.
One can only imagine the conversation between the American owners and Steven Gerrard and Carragher when that quartet met and the local lads were asked to explain Liverpool's heritage.
"We told them that Liverpool are all about the man on the street," said Carragher. "I know Everton are known as the people's club, but I think we're exactly the same. I'm sure they would have been very impressed with that atmosphere. I'm not sure what it's like in ice hockey or American football, or whatever they're involved in, but it'll take some beating to be better than that."
Which is why the prospect of his manager achieving football sainthood is in no way receding as that Athens final begins to loom large.
Then there were eight: guide to the quarter-finals
Chelsea v Valencia 4 and 10 April
Fernando Morientes, inconsistent at Liverpool, is back to his best form in Spain and is a first- choice striker for the national side with team-mate David Villa. Their eight goals secured top place in the group, Villa adding another to beat Internazionale. Chelsea will need a fit John Terry to prevent incursions like Ricardo Quaresmo's for Porto last week.
Milan v Bayern Munich 3 and 11 April
Andriy Shevchenko had the better of Michael Ballack in the knockout stage last season, outscoring his Chelsea colleague two to one as the Italians won 5-2 on aggregate. Both sides look weaker now, though Bayern's win against Real Madrid was more impressive than Milan'sagainst Celtic. The ability of Owen Hargreaves to deal with Kaka could prove the key.
PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool 3 and 11 April
Rafael Benitez, though trying to disguise it, was much happier with the draw they all wanted than PSV's Ronald Koeman, who felt another joust with Liverpool was poor reward for beating Arsenal. In their group, Liverpool had a comfortable 0-0 draw without Steven Gerrard, who was outstanding, and scored, in the 2-0 home win. Peter Crouch, the other scorer, hopes to be fit after his nose operation.
Roma v Manchester Utd 4 and 10 April
Virtually certain to finish second to Internazionale in a weakened Serie A, Roma have a tight defence. Their 2-0 win in Lyon was exceptional, as was Amantino Mancini's individual goal. Sir Alex Ferguson admires the midfielder Daniele de Rossi and, of course, Francesco Totti, a captain who leads from the front in every sense. United need better striking options for the second leg at home.
Semi-finals (24-25 April and 1-2 May):
Chelsea or Valencia v PSV or Liverpool; Roma or Man Utd v Milan or Bayern Munich.
Odds (Ladbrokes):
11-4 Man Utd, 3-1 Chelsea, 11-2 Liverpool, 6-1 Milan, 8-1 Valencia, 10-1 Roma, 11-1 Bayern Munich, 25-1 PSV.
Liverpool's defensive rock salutes the foundations for further Euro glory laid by Benitez
By Nick Townsend, Chief Sports Writer
Published: 11 March 2007
Outside Anfield, a five-strong group of "cardinals" was swinging a smoking censer before an image of Rafa Benitez. The Liverpool fans, clad in crimson cassocks, were calling for the Spaniard's canonisation. And that was even before Liverpool dispatched the European champions, Barcelona. "In Saint Rafa we trust" was their message, at a time when others would be rather more chuffed if Bob Paisley were to receive nothing more grandiose than a posthumous knighthood.
Inside, the new American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, evidently decided that any game your soccer team lose and yetstill go through to the next round is, well, hey fella, one heck of a sport in which to invest.
Once the game started, the throaty roar of Anfield's 12th man made its usual significant contribution. PSV Eindhoven, and then, possibly, Chelsea once more, was the reward in Friday's draw. The Dutch team may have eliminated Arsenal, but you cannot imagine Liverpool being so compliant. They beat PSV 2-0 at home, after a draw away, in the group stage. From whichever perspective you view the future at Anfield - "religious" fanatics, multi-millionaires from the US or the Kop faithful - things are looking auspicious.
The Americans' £470 million injection of new money will enable Liverpool to construct their new stadium in Stanley Park, cancel £80m of debt, and allow Benitez partly to reconstruct his team. Assuming he is still here. Success breeds not just success but envy, and ultimately enticement from those who covet him. Benitez, who has demonstrated a greater affinity with European competition than with the rather different demands of the Premiership, will no doubt receive entreaties from his homeland.
Jamie Carragher, who with the increasingly impressive Daniel Agger yielded Barça few opportunities on Tuesday, when a 1-0 defeat was sufficient to see Liverpool through after that 2-1 first-leg victory, is confident that Benitez would not be tempted. "Not for me," Carragher said. "He wouldn't get anything better than Liverpool, or I wouldn't think so!" And in a pointed reference to certain clubs here and in Spain, he added: "He can buy his own players here.
"He's one of the best managers around. He proved that at Valencia, and he's already proved it here. Hopefully we can go on again over the next few years and win more things." And establish a dynasty similar to that of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger? "I hope so. All the players enjoy working with him. I'm sure you can see the difference he's made over the last few years, especially in Europe. Next season we want to push on and do well in the Premiership as well."
Neither Benitez nor Gérard Houllier before him have exactly been in an impoverished state, yet the American input - confirmed when it was announced on Friday that Gillett and Hicks had acquired 80.7 per cent of the club's shares - will raise potential expenditure on personnel to a new level. Strikers are likely to be the main thrust of Liverpool's summer spending, with players in Serie A reportedly coming under particular scrutiny. They include Juventus's David Trezeguet and Valeri Bojinov, Udinese's Vincenzo Iaquinta and Palermo's Amauri.
But what of the conclusion to this season? Tuesday was a night when the myriad talents of their visitors proved incapable of deflecting Liverpool from what they believe is their destiny: a date in Athens in May. Barça's imperfections were all the more vivid because of their fluorescent shirts, which made them look like ground crew at John Lennon Airport. There were passages of beautifully fluent technique from Lionel Messi, Deco and Ronaldinho, but an inexcusable absence of end product until Eidur Gudjohnsen emerged.
Now there is a quiet belief that Istanbul could repeat itself. "The Anfield factor is massive," said Carragher. "Over the years, that's got to be up there, along with the [2005] final, as one of our best results. Because for me Barcelona are still the best team in the world. We're not going to kid ourselves. I'd still say Barcelona are a better side than us. We're not the best team in Europe. But it's not always the best team that wins a knockout competition."
That candour is not false modesty. But it is true that Liverpool have perfected a way of navigating around Europe that Arsenal, for one, would love to replicate.
And they possess Carragher, a defender in supreme form. Not a first-choice England selection, it must be stressed. John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are still ahead of him. But as a club performer, when his team are under duress, there is no one better. "I'm doing all right," he said, with a shrug. "You're playing against the best players in the world and that's made me a better player. That, and working with the manager. Going into the middle has given me more responsibility. But it's a team effort and the back four, with Pepe Reina behind us, have done well to keep them out - until the Gudjohnsen goal."
Reina will confirm what Carragher prefers to downplay. "Jamie?" he said. "He's like a rock. Very safe. He's one of the best centre-backs in the world. In the squad we do not have one captain. We have several players, and Jamie is one." And no language difficulties between Scouser and Spaniard? "I have had my problems, but our communications are improving!" the goalkeeper added with a laugh.
One can only imagine the conversation between the American owners and Steven Gerrard and Carragher when that quartet met and the local lads were asked to explain Liverpool's heritage.
"We told them that Liverpool are all about the man on the street," said Carragher. "I know Everton are known as the people's club, but I think we're exactly the same. I'm sure they would have been very impressed with that atmosphere. I'm not sure what it's like in ice hockey or American football, or whatever they're involved in, but it'll take some beating to be better than that."
Which is why the prospect of his manager achieving football sainthood is in no way receding as that Athens final begins to loom large.
Then there were eight: guide to the quarter-finals
Chelsea v Valencia 4 and 10 April
Fernando Morientes, inconsistent at Liverpool, is back to his best form in Spain and is a first- choice striker for the national side with team-mate David Villa. Their eight goals secured top place in the group, Villa adding another to beat Internazionale. Chelsea will need a fit John Terry to prevent incursions like Ricardo Quaresmo's for Porto last week.
Milan v Bayern Munich 3 and 11 April
Andriy Shevchenko had the better of Michael Ballack in the knockout stage last season, outscoring his Chelsea colleague two to one as the Italians won 5-2 on aggregate. Both sides look weaker now, though Bayern's win against Real Madrid was more impressive than Milan'sagainst Celtic. The ability of Owen Hargreaves to deal with Kaka could prove the key.
PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool 3 and 11 April
Rafael Benitez, though trying to disguise it, was much happier with the draw they all wanted than PSV's Ronald Koeman, who felt another joust with Liverpool was poor reward for beating Arsenal. In their group, Liverpool had a comfortable 0-0 draw without Steven Gerrard, who was outstanding, and scored, in the 2-0 home win. Peter Crouch, the other scorer, hopes to be fit after his nose operation.
Roma v Manchester Utd 4 and 10 April
Virtually certain to finish second to Internazionale in a weakened Serie A, Roma have a tight defence. Their 2-0 win in Lyon was exceptional, as was Amantino Mancini's individual goal. Sir Alex Ferguson admires the midfielder Daniele de Rossi and, of course, Francesco Totti, a captain who leads from the front in every sense. United need better striking options for the second leg at home.
Semi-finals (24-25 April and 1-2 May):
Chelsea or Valencia v PSV or Liverpool; Roma or Man Utd v Milan or Bayern Munich.
Odds (Ladbrokes):
11-4 Man Utd, 3-1 Chelsea, 11-2 Liverpool, 6-1 Milan, 8-1 Valencia, 10-1 Roma, 11-1 Bayern Munich, 25-1 PSV.
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