By Mighty Reds
December 2 2005

Rafael Benitez is pleased with the run of results his Liverpool side have gained over the last few weeks, but says they can do better. Liverpool have won their last four league games and a clean sheet made it nine in the first twelve games of the season, a club record. Rafa can see signs that the players now understand what he wants from them, and expects them to get better.



He said:

"It is the most consistent the team has played under me," claimed Rafa. "Last season it was difficult to win away games or keep clean sheets, but we are more consistent and teams find it difficult to make chances against us."


"The defence was compact and strong throughout," he says. "We are on a good run and that means the players have more confidence in what they are doing but they must understand how we have arrived at this point. It is because everyone is working very hard and doing the right things in possession and when we haven't got the ball.

"It took me three years to build Valencia's team and that was easier for me because it was in my country. When I arrived as coach at Valencia, I knew all the players at my club and the players at the other clubs. I even knew the referees. Here, I needed time, but I am sure that we are now going the right way and that things are improving for us.

"This Liverpool team has been growing. Each day I learn more and the players also know more about what I want and when I say something to them now they understand much better. Not because of the language, but because they understand more how I want them to play."

"It took a long time to create my Valencia team. They knew exactly what was wanted in every game, but it takes time to create that again. I have had 50 league games here, now I want 250 and to see the statistics then. I am here for a long time and will work day by day to create what I want but the players understand now more what me and my staff require. If they continue to work as hard, we will continue to improve.

"We are better than last season and closer to my idea but as a manager you can never be satisfied. Last season we were 60% of what I wanted and this season we are maybe at 70%. We can still improve in all areas. We talk about how well the defence is playing but it can do better, why not? And in attack, we are doing better but we can still score more goals.

"Having said that, I am happy with how the team is playing. We are more consistent. But I am a perfectionist and while it is impossible, we must try and find the perfect team.

"Hopefully in five or six years people will see if I'm better as a manager. I hope to stay here that long and then, maybe after nine years or so, I will hand over my place to Steven Gerrard because he has said he wants to be manager one day!"