Ronaldo's the one player I wouldn't rotate, says Liverpool's Rafa Benitez

Mar 22 2008

Steven Gerrard tackles Cristiano Ronaldo (158)

Rafael Benitez would love to manage Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in the same team.

The Liverpool boss knows that he must plan to contain Ronaldo on Sunday when his side face a daunting trip to Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United.

Benitez has managed just one point from seven league matches against Sir Alex Ferguson’s team since he took over at Anfield, and is desperate for that record to be improved.

And he accepts that 33-goal Ronaldo, in his current sensational form, will be the danger.

But just for a moment ahead of the showdown, Benitez allowed himself to plan his own ’fantasy team’.

He said: “I would love to have Ronaldo in my fantasy league team, I doubt he would spent too much time on the bench.

“If I had a fantasy team, I would want Ronaldo. People would enjoy watching him play alongside Torres and Gerrard.

“Fans enjoy watching all three, I would enjoy having them all in my team.”

Although Liverpool once sent scouts to watch Ronaldo while he was still playing in Portugal, Ronaldo was always destined for a move from Sporting Lisbon to Old Trafford.

Now Benitez has to stop not only a player viewed by many as the best in the world and comparable with George Best, but the rest of United’s champions.

He says: “There is no special plan for him. They have Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the rest.

“And if you concentrated on just Ronaldo you would lose (control) of the others. They have a good team with fine players and we must control all of them.”

Benitez, however, believes United will be as worried about Torres as Liverpool are of Ronaldo.

Benitez, who has a fully fit squad to chose from, apart from long-term injury worry Daniel Agger, said: “It is not about stopping Ronaldo. They must think, no doubt, about stopping Torres.

“Ronaldo is in form. But then Torres is also in form.

“I am happy with Torres’ form, and because he is still only 23, I know he can improve.

“It is an achievement to score so many goals in your first season, he is continuing to work hard and that means he is very important for the club.

“People are comparing him with various famous players in Liverpool’s history, but I would prefer to wait for a few years and then we can evaluate him.

“He is a good prospect still, and will be much better in the future. I am sure of that.

“It is hard to compare players from different generations. The game is faster and more physical now, but good players will always be good players.”

Torres has hit 27 goals in 36 games, 20 in the top flight, this season, including nine in his last six matches.

Only an FA Cup win at Anfield two years ago stands out on Benitez’s record against the Red Devils.

“This is a crucial time, and if we do win it takes us closer (to United),” he said. “If we keep winning we get close and closer. But if we lose it will be very difficult to move closer to them in anyway.

“If we win, and then beat Everton the following week, it will make things interesting.

“I know I have not won a league game against United, but we have been very close at times and only lost to last-minute goals.”

Benitez not only has Ronaldo and United to contend with, but after an international break Liverpool face Everton and then Arsenal, three times, in a 10-day spell.

He will be left to pray that next week a host of his top stars return from international duty unscathed.

He said: “It is a big problem for all the top sides, playing internationals at this time of the season. They are only friendlies; I will never, never understand why they are played.

“If you are a top side you are playing for the title or the Champions League, I cannot understand players being asked to travel all over the world at this time.”