by Reg » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:36 pm
The misery these yanks are causing our great club. Even journalists are getting bored of writing these kind of articles surely.....
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Rafa cool but chaos reigns at Anfield
Even if Jose Mourinho were still around to hurl a few insults in the direction of Liverpool, members of the Anfield hierarchy would probably be far too busy fighting among themselves to notice ahead of what promises to be another fascinating all-English tie in the Champions League.
It is amid extraordinary circumstances that Rafa Benitez arrives with his team at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
His two employers are refusing to sit together, his chief executive was at one stage without a ticket after discovering that the Americans had snapped up the club's allocation and, when it comes to plans for next season, Benitez has no idea which way to turn. Does he talk to Tom Hicks, George Gillett or some chaps he has not yet met from Dubai? Or does he instead go to Rick Parry when the oversight with the tickets would suggest he, too, has an uncertain future?
In more recent weeks, Liverpool and their manager have done a fine job of ignoring the political chaos and, bar that desperate display at Old Trafford, delivered some memorable performances. Against Inter Milan they were magnificent, regaining lost confidence and then returning from Italy to put some distance between themselves and Everton in the race for fourth place.
The results have certainly eased the pressure on Benitez. At one stage this season he appeared to be doomed. Now, however, he is more likely to call time on his Anfield tenure than anyone else. The club, as one source close to Benitez suggested earlier this week, has become unmanageable, not least because of a lack of direction from the top.
So it must remain difficult for Benitez to focus exclusively on his job, to continue in his pursuit of a third Champions League Final in four seasons while also building for the future.
He was fine chatting about issues that concerned the present. He was only too happy to reflect on the fact that Pepe Reina's 53rd clean sheet in his 100th game for Liverpool had enabled him to break a club record long held by Ray Clemence, just as he was relaxed about discussing the threat Fernando Torres could pose to Arsenal. 'He is on fire,' said Benitez with a smile.
But ask him about his longterm objectives for Liverpool and his admiration for Arsenal and you could tell what he was thinking. Would he like to do for Liverpool what Arsene Wenger has done for Arsenal? He would if he could be sure of the support Wenger has enjoyed.
That and the 12 years the Frenchman has so far had to turn his vision into a reality. Benitez said how much he admired Wenger, which made a pleasant change to the vitriol exchanged between Benitez and Mourinho in previous seasons.
But his words lacked conviction when it came to the subject of following Wenger's example of achieving consistent success in England and in Europe without the spending power of Chelsea and Manchester United.
'I have a lot of respect for Arsene Wenger,' he said. 'He is doing a fantastic job. For years Arsenal have been at the top of the table in England and they are one of the best teams in Europe. He is a person you can respect, and he is very polite.'
While Benitez accepts that tonight represents a clash of hugely contrasting styles, he also sees similarities between the clubs and indeed the managers, even if he thinks Arsenal are further forward in their development. 'Wenger thinks about attacking and passing the ball and has, for years, been signing the players that he has wanted because their style of football is more clear,' he said. 'We are now close to the idea that we want but have not found the system that we want 100 per cent.'
Then, however, Benitez gave a hint of the frustration he is experiencing in reference to the backing Wenger has long had from his employers.
'It's always very important to have that support,' said a manager who earlier this season had to contend with Hicks and Gillett approaching Jurgen Klinsmann about his job. 'It is really important. The long-term mission is the key if you want a style and a winning team.'
On Tuesday Wenger spoke of the next 12 days being 'a moment of truth' for Arsenal. At Liverpool, it is difficult to know exactly where the truth lies. Even for Benitez. Right now, all he can do is put such issues to one side and remind his players of a remarkable record in Europe and that, although Arsenal have proved difficult for them to beat in recent seasons, they look like a side who have run out of steam.
They fought back defiantly at Bolton last week but are now suffering because of a lack of experience and a lack of bodies. 'We have a lot of confidence,' said Benitez. 'This is a good competition for us because we have a very good mentality and players with quality. We understand what to do in each game, so when we approach the games we have more confidence.'
Whatever might be happening around them.
word to come out of that fat Sh.it who was there lst night ,
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