SOCCER:RAFAEL BENITEZ has issued a veiled criticism of his spending power under the Liverpool owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, by claiming his transfer budget has not benefited significantly from five successive qualifications to the Champions League.
Liverpool are in danger of missing out on a place among the European elite for the first time in the Benitez era, a failure that would cost the debt-laden club more than €22 million and, by extension, impact on their transfer plans this summer.
Liverpool are four points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, having played one game more, and though new investment is being sought before next season, Benitez insists involvement in the Champions League should not affect his budget as qualification has not paid dividends in the past.
The Liverpool manager said: “They told me before it (Champions League qualification) didn’t make a big difference (to his transfer budget). Every year that we have qualified for the Champions League it hasn’t made a big difference so if we don’t qualify this time I don’t expect it to make a big difference.”
Benitez believes Spurs are favourites for the final Champions League berth but Liverpool’s greater experience could prevail.
“Everything can change in one or two weeks. You have to be calm and do your job,” he added.
“For us our experience could be key. It depends on each team. Spurs are in a good position and maybe City will be if they win one game, so it will be close. It could go to the very end.”
The Spaniard is also enthused by Fernando Torres’s record of five goals in his last three outings and believes his compatriot can inspire the team’s pursuit of fourth place, starting at home to Sunderland tomorrow: “People are talking about his frustration but I will talk about his accuracy,” said Benitez.
“He is doing really well and if he can keep on doing the same we can win against anyone. He is on fire. I think he can carry on like this until the end of the season. He has no physical problems. Also, the team is stronger now. We played against United at the top of the table and there wasn’t a big difference.”
Benitez admits his side’s failings this season have not brought the best out of midfielder Steven Gerrard but he still expects his captain to contribute more to the team. The England international accepts his form has left him unhappy and that has been obvious watching his body language on the field.
Benitez sympathises with Gerrard because he accepts the season has been a disappointing one but that does not mean he will absolve the player from taking any responsibility.
Benitez knows the quality Gerrard possesses and hopes to be able to spark that into life in the club’s seven remaining league matches.
“I think more or less in terms of his position and his movement it is similar (to previous seasons),” said Benitez.
“Gerrard is an important player because he also has to create something for the rest of the team and he knows he has to improve . . . He is one of the players who is really focused and has a great determination to improve.”
Gerrard, who was troubled by a niggling injury earlier in the season, has scored only nine goals this season – his worst campaign since 2006-7. However, the player is confident he can turn things around.
“I am my own worse critic, I know when it is good and when it needs to be stepped up and the challenge for me now in the remaining games is to step up and drive Liverpool into fourth, try to go to the Europa League final and go to the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Albert Riera is destined to go out on loan to a Russian club before the close of their transfer window next month. The Spain international is out of favour having angered Benitez last week, claiming the manager does not communicate with players and describing Liverpool as a “sinking ship”.
