Benitez bids to build a dynasty

14 April 2012

Rafael Benitez says he wants to create a dynasty to match those of Anfield legends Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.

But the Liverpool manager also told his players that Wednesday's Champions League Final against AC Milan may prove a once-inalifetime chance for them to win Europe's premier club competition.

Benitez said: 'I am aware of what Shankly and Paisley did for this club. It would be fantastic to be talked of in the same way as those two. That would be the ultimate.

'There is still a long way to go and a lot to be done, but that is a challenge I am happy to take on. There would be no better way to start than by winning on Wednesday.

'I asked my players: "How many more times do you think you might play in a final like this? The answer for some of you could be never. Be sure to make the most of it".

'I know it is going to be difficult to emulate what happened in the 70s and 80s, but I believe in myself and will give it my best shot.'

Benitez conceded his first season in English football had been more taxing than he expected.

He said: 'There have been difficulties this season, especially when things have gone wrong and I have found it hard to explain in English what I want done. But there is no doubt that I made the right decision when I came here from Valencia. Over there, I had a technical secretary and technical manager who let me get on with coaching.

'The problem was the technical manager often decided which players we should sign. Here, it is more responsibility, but if I am going to be sacked, I would rather it was based on my decisions.'

Liverpool have failed in a bid for Portsmouth midfielder Gary O'Neil but may now offer Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou in part exchange.

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Benitez bids to build a dynasty

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