Rafael Benitez hopes experience can take Liverpool to Europa League glory

Reds' boss far from complacent...

16 Feb 2010 10:35:00

By Zack Wilson

More On :  Liverpool, Rafa Benítez
Rafael Benitez, Liverpool (Getty Images)

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is in the unusual situation of preparing the Reds for a Europa League tie rather than a Champions League encounter this week.

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Thursday night's game against Unirea Urziceni is Benitez's first foray into European football's second tier competition since he won the UEFA Cup with Valencia in 2004.

However, the Spaniard is as motivated as ever for success and is hopeful that his and his team's experience can see them through to the final in Hamburg.

“It is always difficult but when you have been a manager for a while, with different teams, sometimes you were only playing once a week, trying to avoid relegation,” Benitez said, according to The Liverpool Echo.

“When you have experience, you know all about the different feelings.

"Clearly I would prefer to be fighting for the title or for the Champions League but you must accept the situation.

“You have to be positive and turn things in your favour. Now we have another opportunity (of playing in Europe) and we must try to keep playing better.

“We have got to keep progressing in the Europa League and aim to finish as high as we can in the Premier League.”

He is also not allowing Liverpool's big reputation to allow complacency to creep in as he believes there are still some challenging sides in the competition.

"There are still big clubs involved," he added.

"If we can get through a couple of rounds, though, I’m sure the atmosphere will be really good because the fans want to see us winning trophies."

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