Rafa Benitez dreams of third Champions League showdown with Carlo Ancelotti
Published 22:45 02/10/09 By By David Maddock
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is dreaming of a third showdown with Carlo Ancelotti in a Champions’ League decider.
The two managers both have an incredible record in Europe, and now stand at one apiece in head to heads in the famous finals in Istanbul and then Athens.
Benitez has nothing but respect for the Chelsea manager, after he conducted himself with great dignity during the two epic contests against the Reds when he was in charge of AC Milan.
And they prepare to meet for the first time in a domestic situation, the Spanish coach said: “After both finals he was exactly the same and he did exactly the right things whether winning or losing,” Benitez said.
“I have great respect for him. I visited him in Italy when I spent some time there studying coaching. It would give me great pleasure to see him in another final of the Champions’ League - as long as we were the ones playing against him.”
Benitez takes his Liverpool side to Chelsea tomorrow still licking their wounds after a disappointing performance in midweek, which left him angry and frustrated.
But he has Javier Mascherano back for the Premier League clash, which will add the solidity to the Liverpool midfield that was missing against Fiorentina.
“Javier will be massively important for us. He’s got so much experience and played in a lot of important matches. He can do well against any team around, but especially the top ones in the big games - you need characters like him in the side,” Benitez said.
