Rafael Benitez has rejected claims from Jose Mourinho that Liverpool are favourites to progress to this season's Champions League final.
Liverpool and Chelsea meet in the first leg of the semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night with Mourinho insisting the Reds are in the best position to claim a place in Athens next month. The Chelsea manager spent much of his pre-match press conference bemoaning the fact that Liverpool are free of major suspension worries, have played 'less important' games over recent weeks and have only the Champions League to play for this season, but those comments cut no ice with Benitez when it was his turn to speak to the media. "We have confidence but we know we are playing against a very good side," said the Reds' boss. "They have good players with a lot of physical qualities and as far as I am concerned we are both in the same position. We have two good squads, two managers with experience and a place in the final to play for. "They talk about playing more games and about us having fresh legs but when you want to play in finals you have to have the squad to do it. If you want to play for trophies then you must be really good and Chelsea are really good. They have a good team because they have spent big money over a period of years." Mourinho also spent time in his discussion with the press suggesting that Liverpool will spend the first leg attempting to get Didier Drogba booked, with the big striker set to miss the second game if he is carded by referee Markus Merk. "Maybe Mourinho is thinking about this because he was doing exactly the same thing two years ago over Xabi Alonso," replied Rafa. "We have to think about the football and the referee is experienced enough to handle the situation. If he's trying to get a message to the ref then I don't think it will work. If Drogba commits a foul which has to be a yellow card then it has to be a yellow card. The same applies for any player. A yellow card should mean a yellow card and a red card should mean a red card. "I don't know why Chelsea are always talking about their problems. We have problems as well, we have players missing ourselves. We are just thinking about trying to win the game. If we can keep a clean sheet and score a goal it will be perfect. We are playing well, winning games and scoring goals so we have confidence. We will try to do the same tomorrow."
Liverpool and Chelsea meet in the first leg of the semi-final at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night with Mourinho insisting the Reds are in the best position to claim a place in Athens next month. The Chelsea manager spent much of his pre-match press conference bemoaning the fact that Liverpool are free of major suspension worries, have played 'less important' games over recent weeks and have only the Champions League to play for this season, but those comments cut no ice with Benitez when it was his turn to speak to the media. "We have confidence but we know we are playing against a very good side," said the Reds' boss. "They have good players with a lot of physical qualities and as far as I am concerned we are both in the same position. We have two good squads, two managers with experience and a place in the final to play for. "They talk about playing more games and about us having fresh legs but when you want to play in finals you have to have the squad to do it. If you want to play for trophies then you must be really good and Chelsea are really good. They have a good team because they have spent big money over a period of years." Mourinho also spent time in his discussion with the press suggesting that Liverpool will spend the first leg attempting to get Didier Drogba booked, with the big striker set to miss the second game if he is carded by referee Markus Merk. "Maybe Mourinho is thinking about this because he was doing exactly the same thing two years ago over Xabi Alonso," replied Rafa. "We have to think about the football and the referee is experienced enough to handle the situation. If he's trying to get a message to the ref then I don't think it will work. If Drogba commits a foul which has to be a yellow card then it has to be a yellow card. The same applies for any player. A yellow card should mean a yellow card and a red card should mean a red card. "I don't know why Chelsea are always talking about their problems. We have problems as well, we have players missing ourselves. We are just thinking about trying to win the game. If we can keep a clean sheet and score a goal it will be perfect. We are playing well, winning games and scoring goals so we have confidence. We will try to do the same tomorrow."
By:Paul Eaton
Date:24 April 2007
Credit:www.liverpoolfc.tv
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