Benitez will break up his final squad

May 22 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ will break up his Liverpool squad in the summer – even if they claim the club’s sixth European Cup tomorrow night.

The Anfield side touched down in Athens yesterday afternoon in preparation for their Champions League final against AC Milan in the Olympic Stadium.

While Benitez’s men are aiming to win the tournament for the second time in three seasons, they endured another season of under-achievement in the Premiership by finishing 21 points behind champions Manchester United in third place.

The Liverpool manager will be handed a significant transfer warchest this summer by American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

And Benitez acknowledges improvements are necessary if Liverpool are to end a championship drought that stretches back to 1990, with the close season the “perfect opportunity” to close the league gap on United and Chelsea.

“Liverpool has the potential to be one of the biggest clubs in Europe in every way and by making our second Champions League final in two years we have shown what can be achieved,” said the Anfield manager.

“We are already one of the most famous names in football and it is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of this.

“Now we hope to achieve even more. We now that although we have done really well in the Champions League, it will be important not to think we have done everything we need to and must continue to work harder to improve.

“It will be an important summer.

“The American owners have now been at the club for a few months and can see what’s possible here.