'Pressure?! What Pressure?!' Rafa speaks...

[Guest Phil C]

Sporting Life

 

 

Rafael Benitez claimed the pressure he is under at Liverpool is nothing compared to what he faced as manager of Valencia.

 

Despite Saturday's 3-0 win at Watford - the Reds' seventh in eight Barclays Premiership matches - the Spaniard's judgement has been called into question following the 6-3 home defeat by Arsenal in the Carling Cup, for which Benitez rested several key players.

 

But after watching his team remain eight points behind second-placed Chelsea ahead of next weekend's meeting with the champions at Anfield, Benitez insisted once more that he had made the right call against Arsenal.

 

"I think I am young as a manager but I have experience from being in bad situations. I always say that after a Sunday there is a Monday. You can learn from your situations and improve," Benitez said.

 

"When I was at Valencia, people were saying I would be in trouble if we lost a game away at Espanyol - even though we had just set a club record of going 13 games in a row without losing.

 

"After that we won the league even though we were eight points behind Real Madrid in January and we ended up eight points ahead.

 

"In the second year, people said that I would be sacked because we didn't have good enough players and yet we still reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

 

"The year after people were saying that if we didn't win the league and the UEFA Cup, then I would be sacked.

 

"You need to have confidence in your players, your staff and everyone to gain success."

 

Forward Peter Crouch, who scored twice at Vicarage Road, admitted that Liverpool need to improve their performances against the Premiership's strongest sides if they are to challenge seriously for the title in the near future.

 

Benitez's men have tasted defeat against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the league this term, and Crouch knows Liverpool need to show they can match those clubs.

 

The England international said: "It is certainly something we need to improve, because our form against sides below us has been good.

 

"We haven't slipped up too often in those matches, but against the big teams it has been frustrating.

 

"I can't put my finger on why but it is something we need to address.

 

"Are Chelsea in turmoil? Not at all. They are still second in the league and have a great tally of points.

 

"They are still going to be a very difficult team to play and I certainly wouldn't say that.

 

"They will be angry with what has been said recently the same as we were today and they will want to go out there and get a result."

 

Watford, meanwhile, now appear certain to be relegated after suffering their 11th defeat in the Premiership this term.

 

Adrian Boothroyd's men are 10 points adrift of safety, and could soon lose forward Ashley Young after an unnamed club - believed to be West Ham - raised their offer for the 21-year-old to £8million.

 

Boothroyd said: "It is hard to bring new players in. I have to try to persuade them it is a long term proposition and we have set a target of 2010 for where we want to be.

 

"[The Ashley Young bid] is something we have to discuss and look at very seriously. His value could go down, but his value could also go up if we go down.

 

"I do still hold that view that there are three worse teams than us in the Premiership.

 

"It is now about getting back on track and making sure that whatever happens and whatever we do that we fight to the end."

[Bailo]

Boothroyd said:

 

"[The Ashley Young bid] is something we have to discuss and look at very seriously. His value could go down, but his value could also go up if we go down.

 

"I do still hold that view that there are three worse teams than us in the Premiership.

How does that work then Aidy?

 

And also, if he believes the latter statement, he's more deluded about his own team than I thought.

[Guest Phil C]

Running out of straws to clutch, I guess....

[WelshSpikeMikey]

If Aidy Boothroyd seriously believes that he's going to get any more than £8 million for Ashley Young (!!) when you think that Alonso cost around £12m, Crouch £7m, Pennant £7m and so on... then he really is deluded.

 

Nice piece from Rafa, also.

 

"I always say that after a Sunday there is a Monday."

 

Another quality quote.

[Greenoak]

Value once relegated will be 4mill tops if worth 8 now.

 

Something I doubt very much. Egg head at 'Ammers is a fool and he money if they think young Ashley is worth £8 mill.

[Bao]

I always say that after a Sunday there is a Monday.

Quote of the year and we're only halfway through January!

[_00_deathscar]

If Aidy Boothroyd seriously believes that he's going to get any more than £8 million for Ashley Young (!!) when you think that Alonso cost around £12m, Crouch £7m, Pennant £7m and so on... then he really is deluded.

 

Nice piece from Rafa, also.

 

"I always say that after a Sunday there is a Monday."

 

Another quality quote.

 

He didn't. He was 10.5m.

[Gomez]

How does that work then Aidy?

 

And also, if he believes the latter statement, he's more deluded about his own team than I thought.

 

I think Charlton were worse to be honest. Though I have not seen them since Pardew too charge.

[Raj]

I think Charlton were worse to be honest. Though I have not seen them since Pardew too charge.

 

Definitely. Charlton were far worse

[Guest keygone]

Definitely. Charlton were far worse

 

 

Agreed. They put the "piss" in piss-poor.