Benitez has special qualities to reach an exclusive club

May 21 2007 by John Thompson, Liverpool Echo

Benitez has special qualities to reach an exclusive club

“But Bob also had great belief in the team – and he gave that belief to his players every time we faced European opponents too.

“I remember we would look around at each other and see the lads and we would just know we were better than the opposition.

“It gave us a great confidence boost.

“We were never complacent or disrespectful – but we always had that deep belief in ourselves and it all started out with Bob.

“In Athens it will be similar for the Liverpool players on Wednesday.

“Rafa has already put one over on Ancelotti in Istanbul, and when they look to the bench the lads will know they can have great faith and belief in Rafael Benitez as well as each other.

“In the semi-final against Chelsea, Rafa was the big difference - and it can be the same in Athens.

“We have the better manager – and that definitely helps.”

Dalglish feels it is the acute planning and attention to the finest details which singles out Benitez from others.

He said: “He is so meticulous.

“I think he plans exactly how a game will go and how his team will play during periods of it, even how and when he will make his substitutions, injuries permitting.

“The other thing he has in common with Bob is that he likes to keep his talking to football.

“Bob was never a great conversationalist – yes, I know that’s rich coming from me – but when it came to the game he knew what he wanted and Rafa is the same.

“He just talks about football, not other issues. If he wants to say something he will of course say it, but if he doesn’t he’ll keep it to himself.”

Two years ago, Dalglish famously watched the crushing first half from Istanbul in a pub in Formby before going home to see the Reds’ incredible comeback and their ultimate victory.

He said of Wednesday’s showdown: “I think it will be tougher this time. Not because we have beaten them before – that’s happened and is over and can’t be changed so it’s not something that can be avenged – but because they are better.