saurabh
08-04-2006, 01:03 PM
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/images4/240306_rafa_379_01.jpg
Rafael Benitez talks to the official Liverpool website about what has surprised him most about Robbie Fowler, Xabi Alonso's sensational form, Djibril Cisse's performance against West Brom and his thoughts ahead of Sunday's game against Bolton.
Rafa, another away fixture last weekend and another win. How pleased were you with the result against West Brom?
Rafael Benitez: "I'm very happy to see the team playing well and scoring two goals away from home. It was another away victory and I must be happy."
What pleased you most about the performance?
"I think that in the first-half all of the players were doing the right things for winning. This was our idea - to leave space for Cisse - and I think the strikers did really well."
For the second game running, Xabi Alonso was one of the stars of the show. How much do you think he has improved this season?
"I think he played really well last season but this season he is more mature and growing. He knows more about the other teams and their style of football. He has a lot of quality and I think he is playing a little bit better than last season."
Having had time to settle in England, do you think we're starting to see the best of Xabi's all-round game?
"I hope so. If he continues playing as he is now, we will be really happy with him and I think we will see a lot of good games from Xabi."
Some pundits have commented that it's when Steven Gerrard isn't playing that Xabi really shines for Liverpool. Do you think there's any truth in that?
"I think you can have a sky with a lot of stars. We have seen a lot of games with Steven playing really well and also Xabi. If only one of them is on the pitch then it's easier to say that one is playing better. I think that both can play well together."
Aside from Alonso, Djibril Cisse was another contender for Man of the Match against West Brom. Do you think that was one of his best performances for Liverpool?
"Yeah, maybe. He gave an assist and also scored a good goal and caused problems for the defenders all of the time. He had a good game and the plan was to use his pace."
Cisse set up Robbie Fowler to score another landmark goal for Liverpool. Contract decisions aside, have you been impressed with Robbie's attitude since returning to the club?
"Yes. I say many times in press conferences that he is working really hard. He has the quality that we know and he is working hard and is trying to improve every day."
When you brought him back to Anfield, you knew all about his reputation for scoring goals but has anything else about his game or personality surprised you?
"He's a very good boy, a nice boy. As a person I think he is a nice boy."
The win against West Brom was Liverpool's seventh Premiership away win of the season - far more than you achieved last season. What's been the difference this year?
"I think that we approach every game convinced we can win and we have different players like [Momo] Sissoko, [Peter] Crouch, and Pepe Reina. Okay, Bolo is injured at the moment but we signed Kromkamp, Agger and Fowler who give to us more possibilities. We can use different players in different games and we have more options."
With no European matches in midweek anymore, how are Liverpool making the most of these free weeks - more training or more rest?
"We continue training almost the same but sometimes we give the players two days off. Normally we give the players one day off but now we can give two."
Next up on Sunday is Bolton Wanderers. Sam Allardyce's team are a side that no one seems to enjoy facing. Are you personally looking forward to the game?
"Yes, we have confidence now and we are scoring goals. We are creating chances and we are playing well. We have confidence but it will be a tough game."
Last season, physical teams like Bolton appeared to be able to unsettle Liverpool. Was it your intention to strengthen your players up to make sure no one could ever bully Liverpool again?
"We have talked about the new players we have this season and also the confidence in the team. Both those things for me are important and we approach games convinced that we can win and we now have the confidence that we need."
Saturday is a major event in Liverpool as it's the Grand National. Have you ever watched the event on television and do you have an interest in horse racing?
"Yes, I have watched the races on television and I think it will be a nice day."
Finally Rafa, next week is the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City. Do you see it as a great opportunity for the young lads to make a real name for themselves?
"I think it is important for them and it's important for the club. When you have the possibility to win a trophy, you must work as hard as you can but the most important thing for me as a manager is to see a lot of these players in the future playing in the first team. You can win a lot of trophies but you need to be good enough to play in the first team and that is the priority."
Rafael Benitez talks to the official Liverpool website about what has surprised him most about Robbie Fowler, Xabi Alonso's sensational form, Djibril Cisse's performance against West Brom and his thoughts ahead of Sunday's game against Bolton.
Rafa, another away fixture last weekend and another win. How pleased were you with the result against West Brom?
Rafael Benitez: "I'm very happy to see the team playing well and scoring two goals away from home. It was another away victory and I must be happy."
What pleased you most about the performance?
"I think that in the first-half all of the players were doing the right things for winning. This was our idea - to leave space for Cisse - and I think the strikers did really well."
For the second game running, Xabi Alonso was one of the stars of the show. How much do you think he has improved this season?
"I think he played really well last season but this season he is more mature and growing. He knows more about the other teams and their style of football. He has a lot of quality and I think he is playing a little bit better than last season."
Having had time to settle in England, do you think we're starting to see the best of Xabi's all-round game?
"I hope so. If he continues playing as he is now, we will be really happy with him and I think we will see a lot of good games from Xabi."
Some pundits have commented that it's when Steven Gerrard isn't playing that Xabi really shines for Liverpool. Do you think there's any truth in that?
"I think you can have a sky with a lot of stars. We have seen a lot of games with Steven playing really well and also Xabi. If only one of them is on the pitch then it's easier to say that one is playing better. I think that both can play well together."
Aside from Alonso, Djibril Cisse was another contender for Man of the Match against West Brom. Do you think that was one of his best performances for Liverpool?
"Yeah, maybe. He gave an assist and also scored a good goal and caused problems for the defenders all of the time. He had a good game and the plan was to use his pace."
Cisse set up Robbie Fowler to score another landmark goal for Liverpool. Contract decisions aside, have you been impressed with Robbie's attitude since returning to the club?
"Yes. I say many times in press conferences that he is working really hard. He has the quality that we know and he is working hard and is trying to improve every day."
When you brought him back to Anfield, you knew all about his reputation for scoring goals but has anything else about his game or personality surprised you?
"He's a very good boy, a nice boy. As a person I think he is a nice boy."
The win against West Brom was Liverpool's seventh Premiership away win of the season - far more than you achieved last season. What's been the difference this year?
"I think that we approach every game convinced we can win and we have different players like [Momo] Sissoko, [Peter] Crouch, and Pepe Reina. Okay, Bolo is injured at the moment but we signed Kromkamp, Agger and Fowler who give to us more possibilities. We can use different players in different games and we have more options."
With no European matches in midweek anymore, how are Liverpool making the most of these free weeks - more training or more rest?
"We continue training almost the same but sometimes we give the players two days off. Normally we give the players one day off but now we can give two."
Next up on Sunday is Bolton Wanderers. Sam Allardyce's team are a side that no one seems to enjoy facing. Are you personally looking forward to the game?
"Yes, we have confidence now and we are scoring goals. We are creating chances and we are playing well. We have confidence but it will be a tough game."
Last season, physical teams like Bolton appeared to be able to unsettle Liverpool. Was it your intention to strengthen your players up to make sure no one could ever bully Liverpool again?
"We have talked about the new players we have this season and also the confidence in the team. Both those things for me are important and we approach games convinced that we can win and we now have the confidence that we need."
Saturday is a major event in Liverpool as it's the Grand National. Have you ever watched the event on television and do you have an interest in horse racing?
"Yes, I have watched the races on television and I think it will be a nice day."
Finally Rafa, next week is the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City. Do you see it as a great opportunity for the young lads to make a real name for themselves?
"I think it is important for them and it's important for the club. When you have the possibility to win a trophy, you must work as hard as you can but the most important thing for me as a manager is to see a lot of these players in the future playing in the first team. You can win a lot of trophies but you need to be good enough to play in the first team and that is the priority."