Benitez Interview - Diario Sport

19/12/2007

It’s been said that your position was at risk because of your confrontation with the owners…

- It’s been exaggerated a little bit. The Americans want the best for the club and so do I. They want to sit down and clarify a few things because there is a language barrier and one of distance as well. I think we needed to improve the ways of communication. I’m very calm. I have the confidence that things will be resolved and everything will be fine.

Are things getting more complicated when businessmen get into football?

- The problem of football in general, not just in England, is money. There are a lot of interests and that puts the football aspect in a secondary role sometimes. If we speak of the preseason, before it was unthinkable to go to Asia and change the preparation of the teams. Now it’s done because there is a lot of money in it. Football has changed and not everything works in its favour.

It seems like the form has been somewhat irregular this season?

- We had problems in Europe, but the team made a good start to the league. Then we had a bad month where we had bad results in the Premier and it coincided with the bad results of the Champions. It seemed like we had a mini-crisis, but the team reacted well in the League and we felt more comfortable in the Champions.

In the Premier it is very difficult to fight with the like of Chelsea and United for the title?

- Liverpool have not won the league for 18 years and there is an explanation: the economical potential of the other teams has increased tremendously and we were always trailing them. Now there has been an inversion, but we’re still playing catch-up. The stadium capacity alone supposes 30 million more for the likes of United and Arsenal. The idea is to shorten that gap by building a new [bigger] stadium and also making the right decisions when buying and selling players. That is the key.

From Melwood you can basically control the entire club.

- The figure of the manager in England is this, but there are specialists at every club. What the manager can do is make sure that the sporting and economic issues don’t mix. But the truth is that you never stop working. You always need to pay attention to many issues and it gets complicated. I come from a culture of ‘the coach’ and I like to be on the pitch, train, and then, go up to my office. Those hours, a traditional manager in England such as Ferguson, are used for other things.

After the latest controversy, do you see yourself honoring your current contract at Liverpool?
- I’m quite comfortable here. I would like to stay for the length of my contract and extend it if possible. My family have adapted very well, and for me, the respect and valuation from the supporters in England is fantastic.


The support from the people in Liverpool is huge.

- 40,000 signatures on the internet were collected for me to continue as Liverpool manager. There were signatures from Australia and Asia. Many fans from around the world are supporting a manager who’s achieved some important titles for the club.

Does it bother you that you could be criticized for signing too many Spaniards?

- The fact that we are very active in the Spanish market is due to our extensive knowledge of it. Wenger invests quite heavily in the French market because he knows it well and Mourinho brought some Portuguese players at first, because he’s from there. We have a network of scouts all around the world in order to find the best players. But one thing is clear, choosing a good player is one thing but finding a good professional is more important. In order to know the person better you need a lot of information, and sometimes, you don’t have that information in other countries but you do in Spain.

Is that why you signed Torres?

- The success of Fernando Torres has not been due to his football abilities alone but his mentality and his quick adaptation. We knew what he wanted and what he was looking for. Before we had to make bets with less money and now we were able to do so with more money. I prefer this kind of risk because you’re betting to become champions and not for a mid-table place. You have to take advantage of these kinds of opportunities.

Is your big challenge winning the Premier with Livepool?

- We are very close now. We have eight more points than last year at this point and we have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions, besides we’re still in the Carling with a difficult match against Chelsea. We’re in a good situation, but other teams are also investing, progressing and evolving. We’re shortening the gap.

Your best memories must come from the CL final win against Milan?

- We had to work hard for that one. It’s the most exciting final I can remember and, when I look at the team we had, I almost can’t believe it.

What happened at halftime when you were down 3-0?

- My main problem was the language. When we were down 2-0 I was trying to write some things I wanted to say at halftime and, then, they scored the third goal. Sending across a message in another language is difficult. I was thinking as we entered the dressing room at halftime and then I heard our supporters sing and it was amazing. They were signing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and were still hopeful at a time when other team’s supporters would’ve left the stadium already. That was an evident source of inspiration. I told them [the players] we had all these people in the stands and we had to do our best. We needed to score a goal to get back in the match. We did. And it was fantastic.

He’s not thinking about their next rival in the Champions

Liverpool is one of the possible rivals for Barça in the next round of the Champions, but Benitez does not want to think about the draw. “I haven’t thought about any of the possible opponents. I can’t pick and choose because it doesn’t depend on me. It’s a lottery and I’m pragmatic about those things. Thinking about the draw before hand doesn’t serve any purpose. Once the draw is made we will have to think of beating whoever it is”.

Despite all this, Benitez has so much experience in this competition that he doesn’t really care about the opposition. “All five teams we can face could be clear favourites to win the Champions, but if you are facing us I would reconsider that notion. The Champions is very competitive and it’s impossible to know for certain who will be there in the final”.

And Benitez believes that “In the Champions you must have luck, quality and efficient. The ties are usually very even and any small individual or team detail can influence the final result. It’s very complicated”.

Benitez knows what it’s like to eliminate Barça in the Champions. Last season, Liverpool won at the Camp Nou 1-2 and went through despite losing at home by 0-1.

Diario Sport

Rafa Benitez interview - Diario AS

Diario AS interview. Here's the translation for you.

Miguel Á. Vara | 13/12/2007


First of all, congratulations for beating Marseille.

- It was a much needed victory and we’re happy with the outcome. It means that we will progress in a competition that we like, and people will be able to celebrate it accordingly. Just by looking at the atmosphere that we experienced at the airport, any extra effort is worth it.


What happened there?

- As always, many supporters made the trip to support the team and, on the way back, we coincided at the airport and they started to sing, to jump…the police had no idea of what to do because they[the supporters] started to approach me to greet me and they[the police] asked me what to do. I said it was okay, to let them come close and they started to sing for me to stay, hug me…


Do you feel like the people’s manager?

- I feel like Liverpool’s manager and I say that with a lot of pride.


But in the last few weeks the supporters have overwhelmingly come out on your defense…

- Liverpool supporters are, above all, very appreciative and they understand the progress that has been made in the last three years when the team was coming from situation of ostracism. I think they are very grateful for all of this and with each passing day I feel their affection more and more.


That kind of support to a manager is unthinkable in Spain, no?

- Not only in Spain but I doubt it’s happened anywhere else because we’re talking about internet petitions, demonstrations, chants of support and banners in the stadium…they’re incredible and I insist that we must be very grateful to them.


This kind of popular support seems to have put a brake to the owner’s pressure….

- Things are calm, we’re focused on every match and the team is responding very well.


What’s your relationship with the owners like?

- On a personal level the relationship is good, we’ve had some differences on the professional plane but once we meet and get to talk everything will be sorted out and it will end up being nothing more than a misunderstanding.


Is it a problem that they don’t live in Liverpool?

- I think that the distance makes things a little more difficult, that’s why everything will be solved once they arrive.


What do you expect of that face-to-face with the Americans?

- We all want the same thing which is the best for Liverpool so I’m sure that we will understand each other very well.


If you had known you were going to end up with this situation[with these owners] Would you have come to Liverpool?

- I have the virtue that my work is not based on the hypothetical. I will tell you that I’m very happy in Liverpool and I would love to remain here for many years.


But something seems to be happening in England, where we used to speak about a philosophy that seems to be dying out because there have already been five managers sacked this season.


- Perhaps the pressure is higher, everybody wants immediate results and more so now because there are people investing a lot of money and that makes the owners more nervous[about getting immediate results]. But I think that things will settle down now and, as is custom in England, more time will be given to managers to carry out their projects.

Speaking of projects, Are Liverpool favourites to win the Premier?

- There seems to be a misunderstanding when people talk about the amount of money spent by Liverpool when, between the amount we have recouped and what we have spent, we’re in a similar position to the teams close to the top but not close to the biggest clubs. If you analyze it, United have spent 70 million pounds when we have spent 40 something while recouping 26 mil. That’s why I say that a lot of people think that we must win the title because we’ve spent so much money, when there are other teams like Chelsea, United, or West Ham, Newcastle or Aston Villa that have also spend a lot of money, that’s why nobody has any guarantees to win the title. Arsenal have been spending a lot on young players during many years and they’re now starting to collect the dividends. All the teams at the top spend a lot of money but that doesn’t guarantee the title, the Premier is something difficult to achieve because Chelsea, United…are very big and they have been building on for years.

It does seem like more of an even fight this year in the Premier with many teams competing for the title

- Yes, but it’s not just the top four. The fight is more even between all the teams because any team can beat you on a given day.

Going back to the Champions. You’re certain to draw a big club. Do you have a personal preference for an Italian or Spanish team, perhaps Madrid or Barça?

- We’ve had to fight very hard to qualify out of the group stages and we’re just enjoying the moment, we haven’t really thought about which team would suit us best.

And on Sunday you welcome Manchester United…

- That’s why we must leave the euphoria for others. On the plane back from Marseille I spoke to some of the players to see what we could improve on. I think that praise weakens you and you can’t relax just because you’ve achieved one goal, because if you do[relax], you will fail to reach other goals.

Lets talk about someone: Fernando Torres.

- We’re very happy with him, he has a good mentality and I think that he is very happy in Liverpool, he is happy to be a part of this team, the supporters are delighted with him

What has he improved on since he left Spain?

- I think he has less pressure on his shoulders because at Atletico he was the only reference player and he had to carry the whole weight of the club, but here he shares that pressure with other team-mates with a lot of experience and that helps him and gives him confidence, he’s more calm and is more of a team player.

One of those players is Steven Gerrard. People always say that you two don’t have a very good relationship.

- That is just part of the false myths that circle the press, that get repeated over and over and people end up believing in them. It’s a shame that this sort of thing happens and even more so in this case because it’s not true, Steven is a fantastic lad and the relationship is very good.

Now there is another Spaniard managing in England.

- Juande is a good manager and to have more Spanish managers managing outside of Spain is important because it shows the level of quality in the collective.


What is the biggest problem he could face now?

- The language is the first thing because you don’t quite dominate the nuances of the language. One thing is to be able to say things in English and a different thing is to be able to communicate effectively, when to give it the appropriate connotations and be able to use it to motivate the group. That is quite complicated.

Is this the best Liverpool since you arrived?

- It is. The team has improved a lot. The squad in general offers more alternatives, with young players in many cases, but players with quality. We’re still in a phase of development, that’s why I insist that the team can improve, but there are players with quality and with the possibility of being very important players in the Premier because they have the talent.


Are you going to reinforce the team in January?

- We’ve had a problem in central defense because we couldn’t make the deal for Heinze and, then, Agger went down injured. This has forced us to use Hyppia, who is 34, and Carragher every match and many times twice a week, and with the intensity of play here, is not easy to hold up. Our idea is to bring in a central defender, to balance the team in that position.

What’s your take on La Liga?

- I see that there are teams that still haven’t found their rhythm and Real Madrid who keep winning and gaining an advantage, but the other teams are yet to awake and when they do it will be a more competitive Liga.

Barça are one of those teams, no?

- Barça have quality and if they have played well before they can do it again for sure.

And Ronaldinho?

- Speaking from the distance is difficult, I think he’s still a great footballer, but I don’t know what his day-to-day situation is like so it wouldn’t be right to voice an opinion on it.


Another team going through a rough time: Valencia.

- I have the same answer. In this case I know a lot about Valencia and that make me have an even greater respect for them, so it’s not correct for me to speak on the matter.


But you can tell us about their manager because you have played against Koeman a few times

- Not against him, against the teams he managed, because if I had faced Koeman as a player he would’ve beaten me for sure. When we played Benfica we didn’t do well because we conceded a goal from a free-kick in the last few minutes and then we faced a battle uphill and they knocked us out of the Champions. We had more luck against PSV, we played better, but every time we have played them, his teams have done well, they created some danger and we had to do a lot of good work to get some positive results.


Koeman insists on changing the system, Do you think that squad can do so without any traumas?

- I think that the players are the most important thing, that is clear, then, having players with intelligence allows you to tweak the system and find the weaknesses on the opposing team while maximizing your strengths. I don’t think you can talk exclusively about the players or the system, both things need to come together.


Another team, Atletico. Better without Torres.

- I will only say that, fortunately, Fernando is here with us and we’re very happy with him. If Atletico are doing well, then good for them.


The one thing that did get straightened out was the national team.

- That shows that you must always have patience. If you give the managers confidence, at the end they can instill their ideas and is easier to gain results. Spain has the individual quality and, now, they have shown that they can work as a team and play well as a group. Now we’ll see how far they can go.


And how far can Liverpool go?

- As far as we can. Our professionalism and our supporters demand so.

Spanish Radio interview with Arbeloa, Torres & Rafa after Marseille

Radio interview conducted by Cadena Ser's programme 'El Larguero'. Just as background info, so that it makes more sense, every year come Christmas time the Spanish Lottery has the biggest purse of the year which is called 'El Gordo de Navidad' [Christmas' fat one]and it's pretty much a tradition for the regular folk to buy their lottery ticket in hopes of hitting the big one.

Here's the transcript....


(Presenter) Jose Ramón: Alcalá has already arrived at Marseille’s airport along with Liverpool’s squad, right Alcalá

Alcalá: Here we are ready to travel with them back to England, surely to be a very pleasant ride, I’m here with Arbeloa, who we had last night on the show and we were recalling our chat, when we talked about giving them our blessings from ‘El Larguero’, and, joder, did it ever work!0-4… a commanding victory, and a real exhibition of football today in Marseille. By the way, he is absolutely convinced, beyond any doubt that next round’s draw will pair them against R.Madrid…


JR: Alvaro!

AA: Yes.

JR: I told you…you were going to play, you weren’t so sure last night. I called you so late, nearly 1 am to tell you that you were going to play but you had doubts…or did you know already? [ and didn’t want to say]

AA: No, but I sensed it was possible because I’ve been playing quite frequently and the logical thing was that Rafa would keep the same team more or less.

JR: I told you that Alcalá was bringing you some luck

AA: Yes, lots of luck[laughs]

JR: But he got out of hand eh![laughs]

AA: He did[laughs]

JR: I told him a 0-1 was enough but he went mad, Hala, boom, 4!

AA: In case there were any doubts!

JR: Did he give you the lucky lottery ticket?

AA: No, I’m going to ask him for it now. I think he’s kept it for himself, doubt he will give it to me now.

JR: Ask him for it! I told him to take one for you, seriously, and one for Reina. Not for Torres or Benitez because they make a lot of quid and they don’t need to win the lottery…

AA: [laughs] But Pepe also makes a lot eh!

JR: I know, but he’s just become a father and he has to give the daughter an education!

AA: That’s true

JR: I said ‘Give my little Alvaro at least a ticket and if he gets a portion of the big one, say a million Euros, a little something like that would be nice, no?’

AA: It wouldn’t be bad at all[laughs]

JR: Well…fantastic, wasn’t it?

AA: Yes, now to await our next rival and it seems like there’s a good chance for a big Spanish or Italian team, we’ll see

JR: Who would you prefer? I was told you wanted R.Madrid?

AA: Yes, it would be nice. We’ve talked about it and it would be a great tie against a top team and something to really look forward. So if we draw Madrid it would be great.

JR: You would rather play them now, instead of playing them a bit later in the competition?

AA: No, to start off against a strong team is better. I think Fernando is very eager to face them, Rafa also so I think it would be fantastic get Madrid on the draw.

JR: [laughs] Well, Alvaro. On the 22^nd, Saturday I’ll give you a call since it’s the draw for the Lottery and I’ll call you to ask you how you are planning to celebrate

AA: Okay, I’ll let you know then! Let’s see if he gives me the ticket first!

JR: Cheers!

AA: Cheers, good night!

Alcalá: Thanks to Alvaro Arbeloa as we head towards the boarding gate here in Marseille and here he is…the man of the night, what a great goal, it was the 0-2 and his third goal in the CL. Smiling, ear-to-ear smile on his face, a happy lad he is…here’s Fernando Torres

JR: Hello Fernando!

FT: Hello, Good evening!

JR: Joder, what a good streak? I’ve given you my blessing, eh?

FT: Yes [laughs], the truth is that things are going well and today was the most important match for me since I’ve been here and we saw that the team has responded very well.

JR: I told Alcalá not to give you the lottery, I sent one to Arbeloa but I said ‘Not to Fernando because he’s rich and besides, he’s already lucky enough’ why would you want to win the lottery, aye?

FT: No, well, to celebrate with the friends it wouldn’t be bad at all

JR: What you have to celebrate are all these goals! You’ve got 12 already so far this season and 3 in the Champions!

FT: Yes, it’s a great thing that these sort of clubs have. I knew that at Liverpool I could keep growing as a player and play with an ease of mind to enjoy what this team has to offer and it’s been that way, no? With players of great quality and playing in a lot of competitions, lots of matches and especially the games like the one today which makes my decision the more worthwhile.

JR: Tonight’s goal was beautiful, how you face up in the corner of the area, get past three and put it in the far post, gorgeous.

FT: Yeah, when the team is playing well and with confidence we’re able to do things like this and today we went ahead so early with Gerrard’s goal and our confidence was really high and you try these things and hope they work and hopefully we can carry this sort of form for the match against Manchester.

JR: You are the team with the highest goal average. Three goals per match, and Alvarito was telling me that ‘Fernando wants to play R.Madrid’

FT: [laughs] No, I didn’t say that…that’s him. No, we know there is a good chance of drawing a Spanish or Italian team and we know we have no choice but any of those teams will be tough. It’s the bad part of qualifying as a second placed team, there are no easy teams but, well it wouldn’t be bad at all.

JR: So, you would like to play them too. Arbeloa was telling me ‘ I want them now’

FT: What we talk about in the dressing room is to play in the biggest stadiums against the biggest clubs, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan…after the final people would like to play them again but they’re all tough. Sevilla are playing well in the Champions. Madrid and Barcelona and Inter are all favourites to win it so you never know which draw will be best. We want to concentrate on the Premier now and hope to be in good form by the time we start the next rounds.

JR: I wanted to talk to you about all the punishment you’re receiving in the Premier from defenders. The other day against Reading they kicked you flat, ,eh?

FT: [laughs] Yes. It’s the way it is here. The key is to learn that quickly and avoid those hits because it’s a lot of those every match.

JR: Is it true that while they’re tougher they’re also more noble?

FT: Yes, I think so. Very rarely you will see a tackle where they’re really trying to hurt you on purpose but rough tackles like the other day are very common.

JR: Hey, don’t worry about Atleti because ‘Kun’ will play. They removed one of the yellows on appeal…and he’ll play in Huelva…

FT: I think it’s fair, no?

JR: Yes, Yes, and he’s taking his gloves with him !

FT:[laughs] Yes, well, they don’t love him so much in that stadium but for players that him, they thrive in those moments.

JR: People in Huelva surely love to watch him play but don’t worry about Atleti. Now we’re in CL places and at the end of next year you’ll see when we play against you

FT: I hope so, I hope so

JR: Well, have a safe trip!

FT: Thank you very much Jose Ramon

JR: Good night

FT: Cheers.

Alcalá: Well, that was Fernando Torres and before we board the plane, here is this man, wearing a suit, with a red tie, Liverpool red, who was on the edge Jose Ramon because he had to win the last three matches and well, 8 against Besiktas, 4 against Porto and 4 against Marseille and Liverpool have qualified. He’s the last one as we board the plane, here’s Rafa Benitez.

JR: Manager, good evening!

RB: Hello, good evening

JR: I didn’t send you a ticket either with Alcalá. Not for you nor Torres because you’re already rich and are so lucky, so for Arbeloa a little bit.

RB: I tell you Joserra, that luck is in love with hard work. It’s one of those phrases you hear all the time and the more you work the more luck you get. So Torres who works a lot is very lucky, Arbeloa is also lucky and so am I.

JR: The match turned out easier than we all expected because after 11 minutes you were up 0-2…

RB: Yes, we knew it would be a difficult match and then the pitch wasn’t in great condition and it was very windy so there were a series of conditions that were dangerous but well, we started really well and the team had the occasion with the penalty that I believe could’ve easily been a red or at least a yellow card and then Fernando’s great goal which put us on the right track. We were very focused, we knew they played well between the lines and we needed to be compact and the team has responded very well.

JR: Rafa, has Gillette gone, the bloke with the razor blades, one of the owners who said was going today…

RB: His son was with us at the Hotel but I haven’t seen him[George Gillette] perhaps he arrived a bit later but I really didn’t see him because we were preparing for the match, etc.

JR: But don’t they go in the dressing room before the match?

RB: No because, well they’re usually in America and the son is here now but he doesn’t come in. Sometimes the president comes in, well, most of the time the former president although he’s still chairman and the chief executive and they spend some time with us and then go up to their seats.

JR: And you didn’t see him after the match either? Does he travel on a different plane?

RB: I don’t know because I haven’t see him. We’re about to get on the plane so I don’t know. I imagine that he came in his private plane.

JR: Ya, well you know how billionaires are! And they haven’t called you on the mobile phone to congratulate you?

RB: I don’t know. I will have to check now because my mobile phone is in the bag but I’ll check. I think they must be happy just like the rest of us because the team won and played well. And now we have to sit down and see how we’re going to go forward for the future, no?

JR: What has to make you real happy are two things, besides the victory of course. But it’s the support of the fans and the support of the players. The way they’ve all come out like tigers on your defense?

RB: Yes, I think that the team have shown there is unity and that they trust that things can work out well and the supporters are fantastic because I had never seen demonstrations and internet petitions and chants during entire games in support of the manager. Usually, fans support a player or such but for managers you’re usually shouted at to leave the club[laughs] but in this case I’m extremely happy to be here

JR: Were you ever approached to manage England? No insinuations?

RB: Nobody spoke to me. There were rumours and such but nobody spoke to me because, first and foremost I’m still Liverpool’s manager.

JR: And would you have dared to manage England?

RB: Why be afraid?

JR: No man, not fear! But a patriot like you! At least tell them ‘Sure when you give us Gibraltar back! Or something.

RB:[laughs] No, look. The Spanish NT which could be an objective for any manager, I think we all think the same way. In the future, because now when you’re still full of energy and hunger, you want the day-to-day aspect and thinking ahead in the future you could consider the NT. The Spanish, the English or any other good team because, in this case, we’re talking about two very good teams.

JR: How are you spending the Christmas?

RB: With the family. We have some family coming over and it’s the typical Christmas eve dinner and such. We try to do that as long as it doesn’t coincide with a match because that’s how it works here. But in this case I think we have a match on the 26^th and then on the 2^nd so I think we will manage with the schedule.

JR: Well, Merry Christmas in case I don’t see you manager.

RB: Same to you.

JR: I wish you the best my friend

RB: Thank you, cheers.

Xabi Alonso interview with Diario Vasco (Basque Daily newspaper)

Interview published today by Diario Vasco. It's part of a series of interviews and articles done with the Basque players that are playing in the Premier (Arteta, Campo, Garrido, Mikel and Xabi Alonso)and the exact date of the interview is unknown but it was probably done over a week ago or so. Hope you like it.

09.12.07 -

MIGUEL GONZÁLEZ

Give us an update on the injury.

- I’m taking it one step at a time. After the setback I had I’m taking it slowly now and I want to give it time to heal. But I’m having good sensations.

Is it similar to the injury you had while playing for Real(Sociedad)?

- This injury is on the fourth metatarsal and the one I had at Real was on the fifth. That fracture requires surgery and you know for sure how long you’ll be out for. This injury is not operated on, so it’s more difficult to determine how long you will need for recovery and also more difficult to measure just how well it’s progressing.

It’s the first case I’ve known of a fourth metatarsal injury.

- Me too. I don’t know what could’ve caused it. I noticed some discomfort during a match but I didn’t think much of it. Two days later I broke down in training.

What’s your balance so far on Liverpool’s start of the Premier?

- It’s been much better than in years past, where we always struggled away from home. This year it’s been the opposite, we’ve won more points away than at home. We had a couple of unexpected draws at Anfield and it’s what’s stopping us from topping the table so far. We’re doing well in the league but are having some problems in the Champions.

But in previous years you were a lot further back in the league table…

- A good start is vital for a title challenge. In previous years, by December we would be ten points back and it’s very difficult to cut back the advantage on teams like Manchester, Arsenal or Chelsea. Against one of them maybe but against all three is almost impossible because the big clubs don’t lose a lot of points. We’re well placed and if we continue playing strong, we will be fighting for the Premier.

Is the Premier your main objective this season?

- Yes, without a doubt. There’s a lot of expectations, in both the supporters and the squad, to win the league after almost twenty years.

And you’ve reinforced the squad really well also. Tell me about the new boys. Torres?

- There’s nothing new to discover, although you never know how well he could adapt. English football suits him because there are lots of chances and he can make a difference with his strength and pace.

Babel?

- He’s a great player. He can still improve, but he has shown glimpses of what was expected of him. He can make a difference with his pace and skill, and once he starts making better decisions he will add a lot to this team. He’s also got a great shot.

Voronin?

- A great signing, because we got him on a free. He’s been a great surprise. Very intelligent, plays for the team, creates chances, gives assists and can score goals. He’s a great bloke as well. I knew him already because I’ve faced him twice while playing for the national team, last time during the World Cup, and another time when he played for Bayer Leverkusen in the CL quarterfinals in 2005.

Benayoun?

- I already had him down as a good player before he scored the hat-trick against Besiktas. Playing for both Racing and West Ham he had shown his quality. He moves really well between the lines.

We add Gerrard, Kuyt, Carragher, Reina, Agger…What a great team!

- Yes, we have a good team, but there are a lot of good teams here(Premier)

Let’s start with the leaders. Arsenal?

- They’re playing very well. They play the most attractive football in the Premier. When we played at Anfield I was really impressed by their high tempo and the ease with which they would get past us in attack. But it’s very difficult to maintain that rhythm for the whole season.

How would you explain their improvement after losing their star player in Henry? Similar to what happened to Manchester last season, they won the league after losing Van Nistelrooy.

- It’s the work they’ve been putting in since last season. They already had a great squad, like they showed by reaching the Carling Cup final with their reserves. Besides, Henry spent a lot of time injured and even then, they got some great results. Henry’s departure has meant that other players have assumed more responsibility and they feel more important now.

What about Manchester United?

- They have a great team with the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Giggs, Scholes…They’re very good and will win a lot of games.

Are Chelsea less of a threat without Mourinho?

- Not at all, they’re still a very solid team, and they will be in the fight. Without a doubt Mourinho had put his mark on that team because of his personality, but they have recovered very well and are still the same team that can just roll over the opposition and end up winning matches by crumbling them. To win the league in England you have to play at a very high level.

What can you tell us about Man City and Garrido?

- They’re unbeatable at home, they’ve won all their matches there and that’s a sign of their strength. You tend to think that they will fade at some point, but after fifteen matches they’re still up there. They’ve found their best eleven and there they’re working very well, they also have a good mix of youth and experience and seem to be in good spirits. We’ll see how far they can go.

This is your fourth season at Liverpool and you’ve already won the Champions, FA Cup, Super Cup…What goals are you setting for yourself this season?

- I’ve still got lots of things left to accomplish. I hope I can win the title at Liverpool, make up for the league that slipped away at Real Sociedad. We’ve finished third twice and I think that the complete CV needs a league title in it, because it’s the competition that measures consistency. Then, I have a new challenge with the national team.

The Euro is almost here

- It’s another possibility for achieving something this season. I already played the last Euro at Portugal, where things didn’t turn out so well. At Germany’s World Cup I felt we had a better team and we thought we could go really far, but you can’t allow yourself to make any mistakes and against France we didn’t play our best football. Now we will have a good opportunity to get over that disappointment.

It seems that expectations have sky-rocketed after the convincing win against Sweden

- We’re used to going from heroes to villains and back in short periods of time. Things will start to calm down because there is still a lot of time left before the Euro, although we have two big tests against France and Italy that will give us an idea of where we stand.

For how long do you see yourself playing in England?

- I’ve already surpassed the number of seasons I played there (In Spain), this is my fourth and at Real I played three and a half. This past summer I signed a new deal with Liverpool that runs until 2012, so you do the math. There is great potential at this club to do important things and I don’t see any other place where I could be better.

Tell us about Real (Sociedad)

- I haven’t been able to watch them play this season. I know they’re a very young team and we’ve won four points against Malaga and Sevilla, and that the excitement is coming back by bits. It’s good news. There’s a lot of league left to play, but hopefully they can build on this and find some sort of consistency and in time find themselves in the top spots, which is what gives you confidence.

Do you think they have a chance to win promotion?

- Of course. The key is for the players to feel good, know that they’re doing a good job in defense and attack. If they can gain that sensation and if they have belief, with the players that they’ve got, they’ll be up there without a doubt.

Diario Vasco

As requested: Pre-Liverpool Interview with Krisztian Nemeth

Hope you enjoy it Z.

The interview is dated 14-12-2006 and was done by Spanish paper Marca.

Krisztian Nemeth: “Puskas was one of a kind and it’s impossible to compare him to anybody else”



Lacking the key figures to idolize ever since the great Florian Albert’s (Golden Ball winner in 1967) career came to a sour end, Hungarian football is eager to recuperate part of its former glories at the hand of Krisztian Nemeth, a lean striker who at 17 years of age is already causing awe with his virtuoso style of play and his high goal-scoring ability inside of the enemy area.

Peter Varhidi, the Hungarian coach, compares him to Trezeguet. A much more grounded comparison for Krisztian himself, than the praise he is receiving from his other fellow countrymen. “No Hungarian player, no matter how good he is, can ever be compared to Puskas because he was one of a kind. He is an idol for all of us who are only getting started in football. I would consider myself very satisfied if I’m able to achieve in my entire career only a fourth part of what he accomplished, although it makes me very proud that people think of me as his heir”, he tells Marca from his home in Budapest.

Are there any similarities to Puskas in the way you play?

- Perhaps the only similarity is that I'm also a goalscorer, although I am right footed and a bit leaner.

Which one of your qualities would you highlight?

- I’m good on the ball. Opposing players have a hard time taking it away from me. My dribbling is good also. I’m not very fast, but I have good acceleration and I’m explosive over a short distance. I would classify myself as a creative striker.

Thinking of a hypothetical exit to a foreign country, Which football do you like the most?

- My style would probably be best suited to Latin football. In Spain or Italy. My dream is to play in the Spanish league and follow Puskas’s steps at Real Madrid. It would be very hard to describe the joy that would mean for me to wear that shirt and to be only the second Hungarian player to do so after him.

Do you have any idols right now?

- Del Piero. Zidane also. And as a striker, I try to emulate Ronaldo. He’s the best.

What are your objectives in the short term?

First, to recover from the injury that I’m carrying. I hope to score many goals with my team and with the Hungarian U-19’s in the upcoming Eurpean Championship in Ireland, although my main goal is to debut with the Hungarian national team at some point.