Concentrate on league form/link to guti? - Boss rubbishes reports
Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 4:27 pmRAFA RUBBISHES GUTI LINK
Paul Eaton 06 May 2005
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has rubbished reports from Spain that the Reds will look to bring Real Madrid ace Guti to Anfield in the summer in exchange for Steven Gerrard.
The reports suggest Madrid are poised to make a 20 million pound bid for the Liverpool skipper and also include Guti as part of the deal.
But Benitez insists he remains determined to keep Gerrard at Anfield and has revealed he has no desire to sign the Spanish midfielder.
He said: "The situation with Steven remains the same. He has two more years to run on his contract and we want him to stay.
"I have read reports from Spain today that we will sell him to Madrid if they give us Guti. That is not true. Guti is a good player but we do not want him."
Wouldnt be interested in this player ever, have never seen him as someone who could play for us.
Encouraging words from rafa, just like i was sayin that now we can concentrate on league form and try and get 4th in our last chance.
RAFA: TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON THE LEAGUE
Paul Eaton 06 May 2005
Rafael Benitez has told his players to forget about the Champions League final and concentrate on trying to break into the top four over the next two games.
The Reds visit Arsenal on Sunday and entertain Aston Villa next weekend before the focus can turn to the trip to Istanbul.
Benitez knows his players may need to win both games to stand a chance of winning the race for fourth, and he insists he won't allow any thoughts of the final to affect the remainder of their league campaign.
"The games against Arsenal and Aston Villa are now our most important fixtures, not the final," said Benitez. "It's going to be difficult against Arsenal, but we have two games to get into the top four and then we'll have 10 days to prepare for the final.
"I've told the players not to think about the final until after these two games. We must be concentrating on the league.
"If we win our last two games we could be in the top four and then we'll be even happier before we go to Istanbul.
"To win trophies in the future means playing to a high level in every game, not just in Europe. We can't think it's okay to come fifth just because we've reached the final. We must try to finish in the top four. If we win both our games, it's possible."
The Liverpool squad trained at Melwood today after enjoying two days off following their magnificent victory over Chelsea.
Paul Eaton 06 May 2005
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has rubbished reports from Spain that the Reds will look to bring Real Madrid ace Guti to Anfield in the summer in exchange for Steven Gerrard.
The reports suggest Madrid are poised to make a 20 million pound bid for the Liverpool skipper and also include Guti as part of the deal.
But Benitez insists he remains determined to keep Gerrard at Anfield and has revealed he has no desire to sign the Spanish midfielder.
He said: "The situation with Steven remains the same. He has two more years to run on his contract and we want him to stay.
"I have read reports from Spain today that we will sell him to Madrid if they give us Guti. That is not true. Guti is a good player but we do not want him."
Wouldnt be interested in this player ever, have never seen him as someone who could play for us.
Encouraging words from rafa, just like i was sayin that now we can concentrate on league form and try and get 4th in our last chance.
RAFA: TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON THE LEAGUE
Paul Eaton 06 May 2005
Rafael Benitez has told his players to forget about the Champions League final and concentrate on trying to break into the top four over the next two games.
The Reds visit Arsenal on Sunday and entertain Aston Villa next weekend before the focus can turn to the trip to Istanbul.
Benitez knows his players may need to win both games to stand a chance of winning the race for fourth, and he insists he won't allow any thoughts of the final to affect the remainder of their league campaign.
"The games against Arsenal and Aston Villa are now our most important fixtures, not the final," said Benitez. "It's going to be difficult against Arsenal, but we have two games to get into the top four and then we'll have 10 days to prepare for the final.
"I've told the players not to think about the final until after these two games. We must be concentrating on the league.
"If we win our last two games we could be in the top four and then we'll be even happier before we go to Istanbul.
"To win trophies in the future means playing to a high level in every game, not just in Europe. We can't think it's okay to come fifth just because we've reached the final. We must try to finish in the top four. If we win both our games, it's possible."
The Liverpool squad trained at Melwood today after enjoying two days off following their magnificent victory over Chelsea.