Liverpool FC Forum

by **anfieldadorer** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 6:30 am

Benitez faces first test as Liverpool begin European campaign
Justin Davis (AFP). Paris, August 9

Liverpool and Rangers will be among the ten teams hoping to draw first blood in the first leg of the Champions League's third qualifying round this Tuesday. Former European champions Liverpool go into the first leg away to Austrian side AK Graz knowing they will have the psychological edge of having plenty of European experience over the years. The new man in charge at Anfield, Rafael Benitez, can boast likewise - although while Liverpool last got close to tasting European glory back in 2002, Benitez's successes are much more recent. The Spaniard is known for his tried and trusted coaching methods - in his first year at Valencia in the 2001/2002 season he led them to their first Spanish league title for 31 years. In only his second year at the club he led them to the Champions League quarter-finals, beating Liverpool in both group matches on the way and making a first good impression on the Anfield bosses.

Last year, Benitez's pinnacle with the Spanish side arrived when he led them to victory in the UEFA Cup - only weeks after sealing their second domestic title under his reign. It is all looking good for Liverpool, whose best Champions League performance under their former manager, Gerard Houllier, was their quarter-final exit at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen in 2002. Liverpool have recently cemented the future of England international Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen is set to sign a new deal, and they should realistically be looking to flex their muscles at AK Graz's Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium. Benitez seems to be taking a tranquil approach to his first foray into Europe with his new club.

"I am only thinking about my team, how good the other team is is not very important," said Benitez, perhaps mindful of the Austrian side's exit at this stage last year when Tomas Galasek's 'silver goal' for Ajax in the second leg prevented their entry to the lucrative group stages.

"The important thing is how we play against Graz," added the Spaniard.

Benitez has plenty of quality material to work with although what kind of team he will line up against the Austrians is anybody's guess. Flamboyant French striker Djibril Cisse arrived at the club in the summer from Auxerre, and after some impressive performances in pre-season friendlies Benitez is already thinking about how he can get the best out of his 14-million-pound (25.7-million-dollar) signing.

"I was happy with Djibril's performance and the role he played in the team. But sometimes he suffered because we tried to play too many short passes," Benitez said following Liverpool's 2-1 friendly win over Wrexham last week.

"Maybe Djibril needs a few more longer balls to bring out the best in his game. It is a question of getting to understand each other, how he wants the ball and how we play it, but that will develop in time."

Fixtures: GAK (AUT) vs Liverpool (ENG), Benfica (POR) vs Anderlecht (BEL), PAOK (GRE) vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), Juventus (ITA) vs Djurgaarden (SWE), CSKA Moscow (RUS) vs Rangers (SCO), Dynamo Kiev (UKR) vs Trabzonspor (TUR).

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Benitez faces first test

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