I am committed to Liverpool – Rafa Benitez

Nov 28 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ yesterday sent the clearest signal yet that he still views his long-term future at Liverpool by setting his sights on leading the club to a third Champions League final in four years.

And the Spaniard believes the progress now being made by his team is a testament to his reign at Anfield.

Liverpool entertain Portuguese champions Porto this evening aiming for the Group A victory that would keep alive their hopes of qualification to the knockout stages.

As with the visit to Newcastle United on Saturday, the game has threatened to be overshadowed by the ongoing dispute between Benitez and the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The Liverpool manager yesterday refused to entertain any questions referring to the situation, a decision he says was his own and not a directive from the upper echelons at Anfield.

Benitez held two hours of talks with chief executive Rick Parry on Monday night – “we had a positive conversation,” said the Spaniard – although the rift with Hicks and Gillett, who will remain absent from Anfield tonight, is still some way from being healed.

But the conciliatory tone from sources close to Benitez earlier this week and comments from the manager himself yesterday suggests the 47-year-old wants to continue his work at Liverpool.

Asked if his dream for this campaign involved guiding the club to the final in Moscow next May, Benitez said: “Yes. I have confidence that we will go through, this team is much better and squad is much better than before. I have a lot of confidence in the squad.

“Clearly I want to win every game, we have this one then Bolton at the weekend, so we will continue trying to win all the games all the way up to the final, for sure.

“I don’t want to talk about the other things. We just need to concentrate on the game and analyse Porto, because they are a very good team.

“My commitment with the club is clear. Honestly, I think the most important thing is the club, our supporters and the need to win this game.”

Victory against Porto this evening would leave Liverpool’s destiny in their own hands and needing to win their last group game at Marseille on December 11 to go through.

A draw could give them a glimmer of hope, although Besiktas would have to beat Marseille at home in tonight’s other game to keep Benitez’s side in the competition. Even

then, a win in France in a fortnight wouldn’t be enough if Besiktas were to win at Porto in their last game.

Liverpool remain unbeaten in the Premier League and go into the game buoyed by their comprehensive 3-0 thrashing of Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday. The Anfield team have won their last three games – including an 8-0 thrashing of Besiktas earlier this month – with their defence having not been breached in 385 minutes.

And Benitez added: “In my opinion, the team is showing every game that we are progressing and improving.

“In the last games we scored eight against Besiktas, two against Fulham and three against Newcastle while not conceding.

“Everybody can see that we started the season playing well, then had some problems but are playing well again now.

“The squad is strong enough and we have some players coming back like Alonso, Agger and Pennant soon, so it can be even better.

“We have a squad now that is capable of challenging for the Premier League.

“We have nine more points than last time in the league, we are unbeaten, so we are in a very good position for the future, that is clear.”

TONIGHT’S officials are from Italy, with Roberto Rosetti the referee.