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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he's not feeling the pressure
Reds boss hot under the collar?
13 Mar 2010 18:35:00
By David Middleton
Under-fire Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is confident his side will bounce back despite a disappointing poor run of form.
The Reds, who are already out of the title race and the Champions League, slumped to two 1-0 defeats last week as a Premier League reverse to Wigan Athletic was followed by a loss to Lille in the Europa League.
However, Benitez pledged to steer the underachieving Reds into the Champions League via a fourth place league finish last month and is not backing down just yet.
“I don't feel under pressure. I am disappointed for the season but we can still fight and still improve,” he told Sky Sports News.
“We know the season is not good enough. Every game will be important and the next one against Portsmouth is the most important as we try to close to the top four.
“It is clear we cannot lose too may points so we have to start winning, beginning with this game [against Portsmouth].
“We know every game has to be like this but we have to have a good mentality to approach games in this way.
“Then we can go forward and start thinking about the Europa League when we have a 'cup final' against Lille. Every game in a knock-out competition is like a final. That is the way.”
Lingering in sixth place in the Premier League, the Merseysiders will need to muster a victory over bottom of the table Pompey before travelling to Manchester United at the end of the month.
The Reds, who are already out of the title race and the Champions League, slumped to two 1-0 defeats last week as a Premier League reverse to Wigan Athletic was followed by a loss to Lille in the Europa League.
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However, Benitez pledged to steer the underachieving Reds into the Champions League via a fourth place league finish last month and is not backing down just yet.
“I don't feel under pressure. I am disappointed for the season but we can still fight and still improve,” he told Sky Sports News.
“We know the season is not good enough. Every game will be important and the next one against Portsmouth is the most important as we try to close to the top four.
“It is clear we cannot lose too may points so we have to start winning, beginning with this game [against Portsmouth].
“We know every game has to be like this but we have to have a good mentality to approach games in this way.
“Then we can go forward and start thinking about the Europa League when we have a 'cup final' against Lille. Every game in a knock-out competition is like a final. That is the way.”
Lingering in sixth place in the Premier League, the Merseysiders will need to muster a victory over bottom of the table Pompey before travelling to Manchester United at the end of the month.
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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