Rafa: 'I have a vision'
Published 23:00 17/03/10 By David Maddock
In a week with Manchester United on the horizon and the last chance of a trophy on the line, the future was always going to be on the agenda at Liverpool.
The picture that has been painted of the immediate prospects of the Anfield club is gloomy, with the suggestion that their biggest stars will leave, should they fail to reach the top four and a place in next season’s Champions League.
Yet when Rafael Benitez addressed his own future and that of his team, he was quick, yesterday, to focus on the positive of Pepe Reina committing to the club, rather than the thought that the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard may leave.
Javier Mascherano, too, has long been courted by Barcelona, with the assumption that the Spanish club will come calling once more in the summer, with an offer the Argentine will find difficult to resist.
The Liverpool manager believes that Reina will set the perfect example when he signs a new extended contract within the next two months, and not just because it allows him to tie up another of his key players on a long-term contract.
“It is important to show the commitment that Pepe has, and it's an example for everyone. Maybe it will be an example for the rest of the players for the future,” Benitez said.
“You can see every day how much he loves being here. Pepe's very happy, his family is very happy and he is settled. He's a great character, loves the fans, they love him, so everything's good for him.
“That is an important example for everyone. One good or bad year doesn't make the difference, you have to see the big picture, and the big picture is the future of Liverpool still being positive.”
Reina confirmed he is about to commit his long-term future to Liverpool, when he said: "We are really close, and believe me I am going to stay here longer. I am really happy here, the club seems happy with me and it’s just about time now. I am sure it will all be sorted out in a couple of months, and you will find some more information in a month or so."
Benitez leads his side into tonight’s Europa League tie against Lille knowing that the last chance of honours this season will be gone, unless they can overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
And he has a major selection headache, because Alberto Aquilani – who was seen as an attacking key to the game - is likely to miss out after picking up a virus.
Maxi Rodriguez is cup-tied, but the manager has promised his side will go all out for victory. “We know we have to win, nothing else will do, and that is what we will aim for from the first whistle,” he said.
Benitez added: "If we want to achieve things we have to do them properly. The manager, the staff, the whole club; everyone in all the departments. One good or bad year doesn't make the difference, you have to see the big picture,” he said.
“That is why Pepe committing is an important message, because there is a future here. Everyone has a responsibility and I will try to stay focused. It's the same for the players because this period is crucial.
"The most important thing, though, is the future of the club - not just one good or bad season, and the best thing we can do is focus on the football and stick together to produce the right results for this club.”
Benitez believes, essentially, that even going out of the Europa League against Lille tonight, or failing to reach the top four in the Premier League, won’t destroy Liverpool.
And he even believes that his own tenure as manager is not the main issue either, but whether they can find the right investment to allow a new stadium to be built, which will generate the finances required to buy quality players in the long term.
"My own position is not the issue. It's not a case of 'oh, Rafa's not guaranteeing his future'. I don't need to say anything about that,” he said.
"I have a very good vision about the future, and that's not just about whether we win or lose over one season, it's about having the consistency over how we do things.
“I can see a way out of the current situation, and I have a vision about that which will satisfy everyone’s ambitions. I am ambitious. My motivation is to win trophies. I want to be contenders in every competition, so we have to stay together to bring the best out of everyone.
“We know that in the Premier League there can be a massive difference when you're talking of money, size of stadiums and all those things.
"But one bad season, although it's really disappointing, is not the main thing - the main thing is concentrating on the future."
Lille arrive at Anfield with a single goal lead from the first leg a week ago, and Benitez knows that overturning that advantage to reach the quarter-final will give him some breathing space in his fight to secure a brighter future.
