By Soccernet staff
<!-- end story header --><!-- begin left column
-->
Rafa claim he has transformed Liverpool into a
better club
Liverpool manager Rafael
Benitez has launched a staunch defence of his record at the
club as speculation about his future refuses to die down, claiming
that he has transformed the Anfield club from a "six (out of 10) to
an eight or nine".
The Spanish boss insists there have been huge improvements since
he took over in the summer of 2004 and that has restored pride
among the staff and fans.
"The difference between the club before and now is massive in
terms of money, the value of the squad and the pride of the fans,''
the Liverpool boss said.
"When I arrived here the club needed to win and the people had
been talking about [winning] the championship for 19 years. "We won
the Champions League (in Benitez's first season) after 21 years and
we are the only club in England that has the trophy [to keep] for
five wins. As a club we have pride again and that is
important.''
After challenging for the title last season it has been a
difficult campaign for Liverpool with the club currently lying
seventh in the Premier League, 14 points behind Chelsea. Early
exits from the Champions League, Carling Cup and FA Cup have also
served to plie the pressure on Benitez.
Should the club not qualify for next season's Champions League
his position would become increasingly fragile and the names of
potential candidates for his job are already cropping up.
Along with the likes of Russia coach Guus Hiddink and Inter
Milan's former Chelsea boss Jose
Mourinho, there appears to be a growing campaign for
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish to be involved in a more hands-on
role to help Benitez out of their current difficulties.
The Scot, a former Reds playing hero and the last Liverpool
manager to win the title back in 1990, is currently occupied with
overseeing the club's academy. Benitez admitted he has spoken to
Dalglish about the fortunes of the club but it was in relation to a
long-term strategy and not in regard to their recent troubles.
"We talk sometimes but he is with the academy so we talk about
how the players are doing there but the other day was just a short
conversation,''Benitez said.
"But we were talking the other day and it was interesting
because we were talking about football and how the club was
improving and the difficulty of going one step forward at this
level.
"We were speaking about taking short steps. That is the
difference between being at the level we are now and being a little
bit better. "This shorter step is the most difficult. It is true we
have improved from a six (out of 10) to an eight or nine. To go to
nine/10 that is very difficult.''
A victory over Tottenham at Anfield on Wednesdaywould put them
just a point behind their fourth-placed visitors and firmly back in
Champions League qualification contention.
In a season which has seen numerous last-minute goals, opponents
being assisted by a beach ball and his team denied by the woodwork,
Benitez knows there are only fine margins involved.
Although he accepts Liverpool are not playing well, he is aware
of the power a victory over Harry
Redknapp's side would have. "If we can win against Tottenham
the fans will be happier and the race for fourth place will maybe
be easier,'' Benitez said. The main thing now is to improve and
have more confidence and the only way to do that is by winning
games.
"I was really pleased with the team-work and character the team
showed the other day [at Stoke]. We needed to show this character.
We want to win and if we can we will try to play well but when you
don't have confidence it is important to get the result each
time.''