KLOPP NEEDS SILVER LINING
PREMIER LEAGUE Trophies are key for Kop boss says Rafa
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RAFA BENITEZ claims Jurgen Klopp’s freescoring Liverpool side must win silverware to be compared to some of their illustrious predecessors.
The Newcastle boss etched his own name in Anfield folklore by famously winning the Champions League in his first season in 2005. Thanks to his own achievements during six years at Liverpool, Benitez is guaranteed a warm reception from the home fans today.
Rattled
The Spaniard still considers himself a Liverpool fan and is a huge admirer of the current side who have rattled up more than 100 goals this season. But he insists they won’t go down in history as one of the great Liverpool teams until they win a major trophy.
Benitez believes his Liverpool side hit a peak midway through the 2008-09 campaign when they famously beat Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League and thrashed title rivals Manchester United and Aston Villa.
But he will always be remembered for the ‘Miracle in Istanbul’ and the subsequent honours he won and understands why that is the case. He ® said: “We won four trophies, we played three finals and we reached the semi-final of the Europa League, so the time that we were there we did well and the people remember that.
“They don’t talk about the week when we won 5-1 against Aston Villa. Maybe they remember when we beat Barcelona and Real Madrid, but they don’t remember the actual games.
“They remember the trophies. When you are doing well, that is important.
“The best team we had was the one that finished second in the league with 86 points. We had Torres, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, and we were building something for years.
“In my first year, we reached the Carling Cup Final and won the Champions League but that team was not ready. In terms of quality, we had more two or three years after.”
Benitez, however, feels today’s Liverpool will soon win silverware.
“I think this is a very good team with quality and pace,” he said.
“The way you do things is important but you have to win and I think that they have the potential to do that.”
Benitez went back to Anfield as Newcastle boss two years ago when his side, which went down that season, earned a 2-2 draw, but he believes today’s task will be even tougher.
“Liverpool are even stronger now as they have been signing a lot of players in the last two years,” he said.