Rafa Benitez says ... learn to win ugly

[Guest ukbriand]

here: http://www.lfcpost.com/item.php?item=40339

 

Rafa says 'win ugly'

Benitez says sneaking victories is crucial for title challenge

 

By Ashley Marshall Last updated: 23rd August 2008

 

 

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says his side needs to learn to win ugly if they want to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League crown.

 

Benitez believes his players must be able to sneak matches in the same way rivals Chelsea do if they want to be in the title mix next spring.

 

The Reds left it late last Saturday against Sunderland when Fernando Torres scored eight minutes from time, and Benitez said taking three points from fixtures when you do not play well will be the key to a successful campaign.

 

Benitez said: "Too many times last season we drew matches when we needed a victory.

 

"We had two or three chances, didn't take them and paid for it, sometimes by conceding goals against the run of play.

 

"We have to change that if we are to close the gap on the top team. Sometimes you need to win when you play badly, because you can not play well every time."

 

Liverpool will be hoping for a more comfortable performance on Saturday when they host Middlesbrough in the first game at Anfield this year.

 

Boro have lost their first away fixture in the Premier League in each of the last five seasons, while Liverpool are bidding for a ninth successive home league win.

 

Benitez added: "Chelsea sometimes win like that and they are called lucky.

 

"But it has nothing to do with luck. It has to do with their mentality and the quality lineup they have."

 

 

 

 

Jeez he really, really did mean that didn't he

[Paisley]

here: http://www.lfcpost.com/item.php?item=40339

 

Rafa says 'win ugly'

Benitez says sneaking victories is crucial for title challenge

 

By Ashley Marshall Last updated: 23rd August 2008

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says his side needs to learn to win ugly if they want to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League crown.

 

Benitez believes his players must be able to sneak matches in the same way rivals Chelsea do if they want to be in the title mix next spring.

 

The Reds left it late last Saturday against Sunderland when Fernando Torres scored eight minutes from time, and Benitez said taking three points from fixtures when you do not play well will be the key to a successful campaign.

 

Benitez said: "Too many times last season we drew matches when we needed a victory.

 

"We had two or three chances, didn't take them and paid for it, sometimes by conceding goals against the run of play.

 

"We have to change that if we are to close the gap on the top team. Sometimes you need to win when you play badly, because you can not play well every time."

 

Liverpool will be hoping for a more comfortable performance on Saturday when they host Middlesbrough in the first game at Anfield this year.

 

Boro have lost their first away fixture in the Premier League in each of the last five seasons, while Liverpool are bidding for a ninth successive home league win.

 

Benitez added: "Chelsea sometimes win like that and they are called lucky.

 

"But it has nothing to do with luck. It has to do with their mentality and the quality lineup they have."

Jeez he really, really did mean that didn't he

 

Winning ugly to me means keeping things tight, competing, grabbing a goal and then defending your lead - we've just been jammy so far.

[Guest Funke]

Winning ugly to me means keeping things tight, competing, grabbing a goal and then defending your lead - we've just been jammy so far.

 

Exactly. But no doubt there will be plenty of people that jump on this saying "see see, its all part of the plan, in Rafa we trust". Bless their hearts

Edited August 23, 2008 by Funke

[AE]

Exactly. But no doubt there will be plenty of people that jump on this saying "see see, its all part of the plan, in Rafa we trust". Bless their hearts

 

 

How about, "we all know we are playing poorly but for once we are still getting results like the Mancs etc do"

 

Or would you just prefer "sack rafa" ??

 

[anfield]

We've been lucky so far. Is this what Rafa is doing in training sessions now? Long balls to no one? We aren't even competing! Where is the passing and grit of Valencia? I don't want us to be gung ho like the mancs but atleast pass the fecking ball to the midfield.

[Archangel]

He's spot on

 

What great Liverpool sides always did in the past when it was necessary

[Walrus]

RAFA: COMEBACK SHOWS HOME PROGRESS

Jimmy Rice at Anfield 23 August 2008

Rafa Benitez praised the spirit of his players following their remarkable comeback against Middlesbrough – claiming Liverpool would not have taken all three points in similar circumstances last term.

The Reds trailed 1-0 with five minutes remaining before Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard saved the day with unstoppable strikes at the Kop end.

 

Benitez said: "Carragher was amazing, because normally he isn't a great finisher. After that Gerrard showed his quality too even though he isn't 100 per cent fit – he can change games.

 

"The team showed its winning mentality. This is the kind of determination we want to see for the rest of the season.

 

"Last season we were drawing or losing these kind of games at home, so it was important that we won. It sends a positive message to the fans, who were maybe thinking about last season.

 

"We did it the hard way. I was pleased in the first 15 minutes because we were creating chances but after that we did not play well and they were controlling our attacks.

 

"They scored a good goal and were on top of us. I thought it would be difficult but we changed – we played with three defenders and that was the key."

 

Carragher's goal on 85 minutes took a wicked deflection off Emanuel Pogatetz, with some news agencies crediting the 'Boro man with an OG.

 

Benitez added: "I think Carra will claim it. Sami was joking with him, saying it was a deflection, but at the end of the day we won and that's the most important thing."

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

RAFA: COMEBACK SHOWS HOME PROGRESS

Jimmy Rice at Anfield 23 August 2008

Rafa Benitez praised the spirit of his players following their remarkable comeback against Middlesbrough – claiming Liverpool would not have taken all three points in similar circumstances last term.

The Reds trailed 1-0 with five minutes remaining before Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard saved the day with unstoppable strikes at the Kop end.

 

Benitez said: "Carragher was amazing, because normally he isn't a great finisher. After that Gerrard showed his quality too even though he isn't 100 per cent fit – he can change games.

 

"The team showed its winning mentality. This is the kind of determination we want to see for the rest of the season.

 

"Last season we were drawing or losing these kind of games at home, so it was important that we won. It sends a positive message to the fans, who were maybe thinking about last season.

 

"We did it the hard way. I was pleased in the first 15 minutes because we were creating chances but after that we did not play well and they were controlling our attacks.

 

"They scored a good goal and were on top of us. I thought it would be difficult but we changed – we played with three defenders and that was the key."

 

Carragher's goal on 85 minutes took a wicked deflection off Emanuel Pogatetz, with some news agencies crediting the 'Boro man with an OG.

 

Benitez added: "I think Carra will claim it. Sami was joking with him, saying it was a deflection, but at the end of the day we won and that's the most important thing."

 

Sami is class.

[Rimbeux]

Winning ugly to me means keeping things tight, competing, grabbing a goal and then defending your lead - we've just been jammy so far.

 

 

Not jammy at all. On the balance of the game neither side were on top or looking more likely or 'deserved' more than they got. For whatever luck there was in Carra scoring after the ref might have blown for handball, the fact is that Riley set himself and us up for that by not awarding a clear penalty when Huth blocked Gerrard's effort with his hands earlier. This game is about taking your chances, and short of a ref making a howler for or against you or a complete shocker from the oppo defence, I'm not sure how jammy comes into today, we took more of our chances than they did.

[shanks59]

We will play far better then we did today and get a point or lose on the odd occasion. We don't tend to get that many brakes in games as the others anyway. so lets take the 3 points as it can only get better with gerrard at 100%, mash and bable back to strengthen the side. and the front two having a better understanding.

[Magic8Ball]

We will play far better then we did today and get a point or lose on the odd occasion. We don't tend to get that many brakes in games as the others anyway. so lets take the 3 points as it can only get better with gerrard at 100%, mash and bable back to strengthen the side. and the front two having a better understanding.

if we're going to get a little good luck I would sooner we get it all in one season so we win something big ... let's see them sack Rafa then!

[Euphrates]

Not jammy at all. On the balance of the game neither side were on top or looking more likely or 'deserved' more than they got. For whatever luck there was in Carra scoring after the ref might have blown for handball, the fact is that Riley set himself and us up for that by not awarding a clear penalty when Huth blocked Gerrard's effort with his hands earlier. This game is about taking your chances, and short of a ref making a howler for or against you or a complete shocker from the oppo defence, I'm not sure how jammy comes into today, we took more of our chances than they did.

 

Don't think Huth used his hands, he'd turned his back on it and it hit his arm near enough to his shoulder that I don't think it was nailed on.

[Mike]

hit his hand and it was going in. seen them given.