by account deleted by request » Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:12 pm
It's time for us to get real
Jan 10 2007
Exclusive By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
RAFA Benitez says Liverpool must learn the lessons of last night's Carling Cup humiliation, as he urged the club to match Arsenal's ambition in the recruitment of young talent.
Benitez, who apologised for the 6-3 defeat, is deeply frustrated his efforts to create an equally powerful reserve line-up has been thwarted by lack of funds.
But the boss insists he was right to stand by his team selection at Anfield, and argued the gulf in class was a result of Arsenal's ten years of careful planning and recruitment.
He says Liverpool's prospective new owners must take note if they want the club to match the Gunners.
"The first thing we must do is say sorry to our supporters. They were magnificent and deserved better," said Benitez.
"Secondly, although we made mistakes in the game my players worked hard and I must recognise this.
"But when you analyse the situation, the conclusion which worries me is Arsenal could pick nine reserves and score six goals at Anfield. We had seven players of the first team and could not win.
"There is a lesson in this for the whole of our club. If you want to compete at the top level, you must be able to spend a lot of money not only on your first team, but on the young players and reserves.
"Arsenal spent £4m on Diaby, £4m on Denilson, £8m on Walcott and Baptista is a £22m player.
"They have been working for ten years to build a strong squad, and we have been working for two years. My scout department has done an excellent job, but sometimes we go too slow as a club to make signings we need, and when we do there is not a lot of money.
"Today, for example, we are signing a young Italian keeper on loan with an option for later. We've also been working for many weeks to sign the young Scottish player James McCarthy.
"These are the deals we are doing because we want to build a squad of similar quality in the future, but without spending big money it's difficult.
"The money we sign is for the first team, and when you look at the quality of Reina, Sissoko, Alonso, Bellamy and Crouch it's clear all are worth more now than when we bought them."
Benitez has come under fire for his team selection in the wake of the latest cup exit, but he's standing firm.
"I used Momo Sissoko in the Carling Cup against Birmingham and lost him for four months," he said.
"Last night we believe we've lost Luis for the rest of the season and Gonzalez and Warnock were injured. Steven Gerrard has a dead leg and Xabi Alonso a tight hamstring.
"What is more important? The Premiership, the Champions League or the Carling Cup?
"If Arsenal can play nine reserves and score six at Anfield, people should be asking why is this. It's not because of one game, it's because of many reasons. I picked a team with seven players from the first team last night.
Do people expect me to play Finnan every week? He has had to play in every fixture this season. The players I used were good players."
? I was simply agreeing with others and pointing out the fact that a lot of our players arnt good enough.
