There is one story plastered across the back pages of Tuesday's
newspapers and that is Rafa Benitez's demand for Liverpool to be
given the credit they deserve for their European exploits.
Speaking ahead of the Reds' clash with Real Madrid in the last
16 of the Champions League Benitez pointed out that Liverpool are
the best team in Europe in UEFA's coefficient rankings and thinks
the media should be more positive in their coverage.
It is therefore somewhat ironic that The Sun
interpreted this in typically sensational fashion claiming it was
Rafa Rant II as he roared: You lot don't appreciate us enough!
What the Spaniard actually said was: "I don't think the messages
about our performance have been as positive as they could have
been."
"But when you look at what we have done in reaching two finals
and a semi, it means a lot of credit for the players, a lot of
memories for the club and a lot of money too."
The Daily Mail take a slightly softer stance, claiming
Rafa is simply demanding a little more respect.
"The UEFA findings show we have the best record in Europe over
the last five years,' Benitez told the newspaper. ”We have won it
once, reached the final another time and have always been
challenging in the later stages. Yet some of the messages still
coming my way are not the best."
The Daily Star also focus on Benitez and report that he
has vowed to beat Real Madrid and Manchester United as his side
continue to battle for European glory and the domestic title.
The Reds face Real on Tuesday and Premier League leaders United
on Saturday and Benitez insists his team will triumph in both
games.
"At this stage of the season I would not be happy with just the
Champions League, I want both," Benitez said. "If we beat Real we
will be in a good position in the Champions League ... If we beat
United we will still be in the title race. I want to win both and
believe we can."
The Daily Mirror report that Real coach Juande Ramos
has turned up the heat on his opposite number ahead of the European
clash by branding his Liverpool side boring and claiming their
victory in the first leg was 'undeserved'.
"Liverpool came to Madrid not to play football at all, but to
try to force a 0-0," Ramos complained. "They will play the same way
at Anfield. We know what they are like, I am sure of that."
In other news, Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has
admitted he is struggling to control his anger as opponents
continue to kick him.
Ronaldo, who can expect more rough stuff against Inter Milan on
Wednesday, told The Sun: "I am a target of course so it is
difficult to avoid certain things. I try to control my anger.
Sometimes it's not easy, though, and it is something I have to
improve on."
United team-mate Patrice Evra reveals in the Daily Star
that he thinks the Red Devils can win the Quintuple this season
because of their miserly defence.
"Winning these five trophies would be the stuff of legend. We
are hungry for it," Evra said. "It's true that last year we won the
league and Champions League, but we want even more this year."
Guus Hiddink is considering handing Michael Essien his first
Chelsea start in more than six months in Tuesday's critical
Champions League knockout tie at Juventus, according The
Guardian.
The Ghanaian, who ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in
September, could feature on the right of midfield.
Meanwhile, Juve manager Claudio Ranieri claims the widening gulf
between Italian and English clubs is purely down to money.
"I would not say we have an inferiority complex," Ranieri told
the Daily Express. "If there is any inferiority complex at
all, then it is about having less money, but that is not a complex
but a circumstance."
It was Ranieri himself who was one of the first to benefit from
English football's new-found wealth - spending Roman Abramovich's
millions as manager of Chelsea.