by NANNY RED » Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:53 pm
Just been reading Rafas comments in tonight echo regarding leaving players on the bench on sat but im more concerned with the comments crouch made regarding us getting a point
Not good enough saying things like that crouchy lad[
]Rafa Benitez defends his team selection policy
Sep 17 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ stood firmly behind his team selection at Portsmouth on Saturday, as Liverpool’s brief spell as Premier League leaders ended in a draw.
Benitez remains furious at the fixture schedule, which meant none of his international contingent trained prior to the trip to the south coast.
The manager felt unable to pick his strongest side, favouring those who didn’t feature for 90 minutes for their country last week.
That meant Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres remained on the bench for an hour of the 0-0 draw at Fratton Park, while Dirk Kuyt didn’t even travel with the squad.
The result was a scrappy performance, out of character with the start Liverpool have made to the campaign.
Benitez insisted he was compelled to rest players.
“I just had to try to pick the fittest and freshest players and we had the better of the game in the first half but then it became more open and they had chances, too,” insisted the manager.
“When Gerrard and Torres came on we had more creativity in attack than we had before but we had 18 players on international duty around the world last week and I don't think it would have made any difference if they had started the game.
“After an international break it is very difficult to pick the team because you don't have any time to train with the players.
“Mascherano, for example, was in Australia playing in a very ‘important’ friendly.
“In the first half I thought we were the better team and controlled the game. In the second half it was very open and we both had very good chances. We could have won it, they could have won it. In my opinion we deserved at least a point.
“They had a couple of clear chances but they were from our mistakes and not from open play. I think we were better than them in the first half and were controlling the game. Our substitutes came on in the second half and helped us, it was just a pity we couldn't score.”
Benitez reassured supporters his selection did not mean the Champions League is more a priority than the league.
His side was a reflection of the international demands rather than saving his best players for the game against Porto.
“If there is one title for us to win this season it is the Premier League. But we want to win the Champions League, too,” he explained.
Recalled striker Peter Crouch claimed Liverpool took a point from the kind of fixture they might have lost last season.
“A lot of teams will find it very difficult coming to Portsmouth. They are a strong side physically – probably the strongest in the league,” he said.
“We matched them in that way and maybe a year or two ago we would have lost that game.
“I think it's a decent point, even though we're disappointed not to take away all three.”
HE WHO BETRAYS WILL ALWAYS WALK ALONE
about the Champions League this year. Of course i hope and expect us to get beyond the group stages but i'm desperate to see us do well in the league and i think lfc should still be sitting pretty at the top with the opportunity to stay there for several more weeks ahead.
