Rafa Benitez spoke to radio journalists as part of the build-up to today's Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. Here is what he had to say in full.
Journalist: Liverpool and the Champions League seem to go together really well. You've got a couple of big ties in there and that's something for the fans to look forward to...
We have experience in the Champions League. The players are happy and they enjoy the experience of international football, so that is good. But, again, these are three new clubs who we have never played against. It will be a good experience for the fans and hopefully we can play at the same level we have done in recent years.
Journalist: You've got a very strong bunch of individuals. Are they collectively in the right mindset after suffering two defeats in three games in the Premier League?
I think the team want to show we are good enough. We have more or less the same squad that got 86 points last season, so the players know they can play better. They know we can do things in different ways. We will try, but you never know in football. Bolton will be very difficult, but I can guarantee the players will be working hard and trying to win from the very first minute.
Journalist: Speaking to Bolton manager Gary Megson this week, he feels the criticism you and the club have received has been unjust and undeserved. Do you feel Liverpool are an easy target?
We are a top side and we went so close last season that maybe some people were expecting us to win a lot of games in a row, but the Premier League is very difficult. Again, we can talk about pre-season and a lot of players returning late, but we know we have to improve. The main thing for me now is to forget the mistakes as soon as possible and try to change, improve and play at the same level we did last season.
Journalist: Yossi Benayoun said after the last match the players are not used to losing two games in the space of a short time. Is this a period your players can use a character building exercise?
Our message has been the same last year and this year: we have to approach every game like it is the last one. We have to try and get three points in every single game and that's it. We can't see the table or be analysing games every time. We have lost two games and we are really disappointed, but now we have an opportunity to change things by winning against Bolton.
Journalist: The two games you did lose were to Tottenham and Aston Villa. They're going to take more points off the top sides this season, so things could equal out couldn't they?
Yes, I think so. I think this season Man City, Aston Villa and Tottenham will be very close. That means you can lose against anyone. These teams are good teams and I am sure that means it will be more difficult for the top sides to win every single game.
Journalist: After the defeat to Villa, a journalist asked you if you felt other teams had worked out your system now. You were quite robust in your answer and said the 86 points you picked up last season proved otherwise. You seem very confident you have a system that can do well...
4-4-2 is the most used system in England and 80 per cent of teams use this formation, so they know each other. Why is it different for us? Everyone knows the systems of the other teams, but especially 4-4-2. It is the most common formation in England. So if everybody knows this, why don't they beat each other every time? In football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but it is not dependant on the system – it is down to the players.
Journalist: So it's about the players and their performance?
Yes. You can play 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, but if you have good players on the pitch playing well it will be easier. Again I will say, if teams know our tactics, why don't they know the tactics of the teams that have played 4-4-2 for years? Everybody knows the systems, it is a question of how to manage the players on the pitch.
Journalist: People have also questioned the strength of the Liverpool squad...
It is correct we had some young players on the bench the other night, but Fabio Aurelio is a senior player who is injured, Agger is injured and we have Aquilani to come back. That is three players and if we put them on the bench people will say we have a good squad. It is a question of trying to keep everyone fit and ready. The young players will also have more experience after this year, so if everyone works together we will have a very good squad.
Journalist: Looking at the start to the season you've had, you've played a couple of tough teams and when you've had a spell like that you don't want to be going to the Reebok Stadium to face Bolton...
We know Bolton will be difficult. They are a physical team and they need to win, so it will be a tough, tough game. But the commitment of the players is good, and our training sessions have been really good, and we have to start winning games. Bolton are next up and we will try to do our job.
Journalist: You beat Bolton twice last season and your record against them in the Premier League is very good, so you can go there with confidence...
Every year is different, but at least we know we can do it, so that is positive. Every year you change players and the situation, so it will be different, but we are confident we can do it.
Journalist: Can you take any positives from your situation? As a manager, do you thrive on what you've got to achieve now?
I think in this situation you have to be calm and analyse things properly because every manager is under pressure from the beginning - the TV were asking me about Gary Megson being under pressure. Every single manager is under pressure if you lose one game. You have to look at the bigger picture. Okay, we have lost two games and people were expecting us to win three in a row. We can manage this by trying to be calm.
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