Pepe Reina: Why Premier title is our obsession
Aug 17 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
THE clearest sign of how well Liverpool’s season is going is how long domestic duties eclipse European adventures.
Rafa Benitez’s reign to date has been dominated by Champions League progress, with the pursuit of glory on the continent quickly established as the only realistic chance of salvaging pride.
Now there’s a resolve to buck this trend.
Benitez’s first two team selections underlined where his priorities are, and as Pepe Reina looked ahead to renewing hostilities with Chelsea on Sunday, he was absolute in his view what matters most to the club.
“Every tournament Liverpool is involved in is important and we have to fight to win it, but we have a special resolution in the Premier League,” he said. “It’s been 18 years since we won it, so that’s what’s getting us excited. It’s the number one tournament for us now.”
It would be premature and misguided to suggest the Champions League is losing its glamour.
Come March, if Liverpool are stuck in the chasing pack in the title race but preparing for a European quarter-final, priorities will have shifted back again.
But players, manager and supporters are sick of settling for second, third or fourth best in the league.
The club knows an all-too-rare opportunity to push Chelsea and Manchester United has finally arrived again, but they need a win over their rivals to convince the sceptics this isn’t another false dawn.
Reina says he’s delighted an opportunity to make a statement has arrived so early.
“If we could have picked a first game at home, this would be it because we have no fear at all, just confidence. We’re really excited,” he said.
“It’s in our minds to make a big statement by beating them at home.
“We want to give the fans a great day in our first game at Anfield.
“We knew to win the first game away against a tough team like Aston Villa was important for us.
“Having Chelsea in the second game, being such a strong side, means we already have it in our own hands to force our way into the top four early in the season.
“We want to make the most of this advantage.”
Liverpool overcame a psychological hurdle by securing their first Premiership win over Jose Mourinho in the corresponding fixture last season, and later added another memorable semi-final win.
However, Reina sees no relevance in those successes heading into Sunday’s meeting.
“Each game against them is different so we can’t think too much about the games we played against them last season,” he said. “In the league game they had a lot of injuries and it wasn’t really Chelsea.
“We always expect hard games against them.
“It’s usually very physical, but we are in a good moment. We’ve started the season how we wanted.”
Maintaining the stark contrast with the start of last season is essential.
A mere three wins from the opening nine matches ended aspirations by October, but that painful experience appears to have focused minds a year on.
“All of us had a poor beginning last season, although we were really unlucky with the fixtures,” recalls Reina.
“Visiting Bolton, Everton, Manchester United and Chelsea so quickly within six games made it very difficult.
“We wanted to change this beginning and hopefully we’ll do it.
“Obviously it will help us this season that we’re physically stronger and in a better situation when we have to play those difficult games.
“On paper, our fixtures at the start look easier and we feel we have more of an advantage, but we must still work hard to show that.
“The boss has been looking for three years to build a great squad where he knows he can pick any player at any moment.
“Now we can look at the bench and it’s so strong, and that’s important to us. You can see the quality of the players.”
It’s time to show title fight - Rafa Benitez
Aug 17 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ today challenged his players to prove they have what it takes to sustain a title challenge.
Benitez has warned his stars he won’t tolerate a season where they keep their best form for the visit to Anfield of their main Premier League rivals.
The Liverpool boss trusts his side to reach the standards required when Chelsea arrive on Sunday, but he admits he must feel the same confidence for games such as the trip to Sunderland next week.
And now he’s using the build-up to the Londoners’ visit to order his squad to prepare for each league game with the same intensity he knows will be on show at Anfield this weekend.
“If we show the same quality against every side in the league as I believe we will against Chelsea, at the end of the season we will be up there,” he said.
“Chelsea may be an important game now, but next week’s game against Sunderland will be just as important.
“Every three points we play for will mean something at the end of the season, so all the players must be ready every week.
“I want each game in the Premiership to be seen in the same way rather than hear people talking about how a game like Chelsea may be more important than others.
“We know when you’re playing against a top side you must do well if you want to be a contender, but to be ready against all the teams is the only way to compete in the Premiership.
“I know against the top sides how much everyone wants to play and show their quality and I know they can do it.”
As usual, the focus when Liverpool and Chelsea meet is on the managers as much as the teams.
Jose Mourinho claims there’s more pressure on Benitez this season because of the extra value of the players he’s signed. But Benitez was quick to remind him his summer outlay is a drop in the ocean compared to what he’s spent since moving to England.
“The players are more important than the managers,” he said. “If you analyse the last five years, it’s clear Abramovich has done a fantastic job.”
Benitez expects Steven Gerrard to play, despite his broken toe. However, he won't be released for England’s friendly against Germany next week.
Aug 17 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
THE clearest sign of how well Liverpool’s season is going is how long domestic duties eclipse European adventures.
Rafa Benitez’s reign to date has been dominated by Champions League progress, with the pursuit of glory on the continent quickly established as the only realistic chance of salvaging pride.
Now there’s a resolve to buck this trend.
Benitez’s first two team selections underlined where his priorities are, and as Pepe Reina looked ahead to renewing hostilities with Chelsea on Sunday, he was absolute in his view what matters most to the club.
“Every tournament Liverpool is involved in is important and we have to fight to win it, but we have a special resolution in the Premier League,” he said. “It’s been 18 years since we won it, so that’s what’s getting us excited. It’s the number one tournament for us now.”
It would be premature and misguided to suggest the Champions League is losing its glamour.
Come March, if Liverpool are stuck in the chasing pack in the title race but preparing for a European quarter-final, priorities will have shifted back again.
But players, manager and supporters are sick of settling for second, third or fourth best in the league.
The club knows an all-too-rare opportunity to push Chelsea and Manchester United has finally arrived again, but they need a win over their rivals to convince the sceptics this isn’t another false dawn.
Reina says he’s delighted an opportunity to make a statement has arrived so early.
“If we could have picked a first game at home, this would be it because we have no fear at all, just confidence. We’re really excited,” he said.
“It’s in our minds to make a big statement by beating them at home.
“We want to give the fans a great day in our first game at Anfield.
“We knew to win the first game away against a tough team like Aston Villa was important for us.
“Having Chelsea in the second game, being such a strong side, means we already have it in our own hands to force our way into the top four early in the season.
“We want to make the most of this advantage.”
Liverpool overcame a psychological hurdle by securing their first Premiership win over Jose Mourinho in the corresponding fixture last season, and later added another memorable semi-final win.
However, Reina sees no relevance in those successes heading into Sunday’s meeting.
“Each game against them is different so we can’t think too much about the games we played against them last season,” he said. “In the league game they had a lot of injuries and it wasn’t really Chelsea.
“We always expect hard games against them.
“It’s usually very physical, but we are in a good moment. We’ve started the season how we wanted.”
Maintaining the stark contrast with the start of last season is essential.
A mere three wins from the opening nine matches ended aspirations by October, but that painful experience appears to have focused minds a year on.
“All of us had a poor beginning last season, although we were really unlucky with the fixtures,” recalls Reina.
“Visiting Bolton, Everton, Manchester United and Chelsea so quickly within six games made it very difficult.
“We wanted to change this beginning and hopefully we’ll do it.
“Obviously it will help us this season that we’re physically stronger and in a better situation when we have to play those difficult games.
“On paper, our fixtures at the start look easier and we feel we have more of an advantage, but we must still work hard to show that.
“The boss has been looking for three years to build a great squad where he knows he can pick any player at any moment.
“Now we can look at the bench and it’s so strong, and that’s important to us. You can see the quality of the players.”
It’s time to show title fight - Rafa Benitez
Aug 17 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ today challenged his players to prove they have what it takes to sustain a title challenge.
Benitez has warned his stars he won’t tolerate a season where they keep their best form for the visit to Anfield of their main Premier League rivals.
The Liverpool boss trusts his side to reach the standards required when Chelsea arrive on Sunday, but he admits he must feel the same confidence for games such as the trip to Sunderland next week.
And now he’s using the build-up to the Londoners’ visit to order his squad to prepare for each league game with the same intensity he knows will be on show at Anfield this weekend.
“If we show the same quality against every side in the league as I believe we will against Chelsea, at the end of the season we will be up there,” he said.
“Chelsea may be an important game now, but next week’s game against Sunderland will be just as important.
“Every three points we play for will mean something at the end of the season, so all the players must be ready every week.
“I want each game in the Premiership to be seen in the same way rather than hear people talking about how a game like Chelsea may be more important than others.
“We know when you’re playing against a top side you must do well if you want to be a contender, but to be ready against all the teams is the only way to compete in the Premiership.
“I know against the top sides how much everyone wants to play and show their quality and I know they can do it.”
As usual, the focus when Liverpool and Chelsea meet is on the managers as much as the teams.
Jose Mourinho claims there’s more pressure on Benitez this season because of the extra value of the players he’s signed. But Benitez was quick to remind him his summer outlay is a drop in the ocean compared to what he’s spent since moving to England.
“The players are more important than the managers,” he said. “If you analyse the last five years, it’s clear Abramovich has done a fantastic job.”
Benitez expects Steven Gerrard to play, despite his broken toe. However, he won't be released for England’s friendly against Germany next week.
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