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EXCLUSIVE RAFA Q & A INTERVIEW
Rafael Benitez speaks exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv about the magnificent seven against Birmingham, the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, and previews the Merseyside derby with Everton.
Liverpoolfc.tv: Rafa, first of all your reaction to the FA Cup draw and it's Chelsea again?
Rafael Benitez: If you are winning games then it's normal you will meet the best teams towards the end of the competition. I think it will be a difficult game for both teams.
We've played Chelsea four times already this season, do you think it's a case that both teams know each other so well it will be a tight game?
When you play a cup tie it's always different. I think it will be a very difficult game but I also think we will have our chances for winning.
We beat Chelsea in last season's Champions League semi-final so there's no reason why we can't beat them again is there?
For sure. They are a good team but we have confidence and it's a cup tie and anything can happen.
It was some start at Birmingham wasn't it, 2-0 up after four minutes?
It was the best start for us after four minutes in the FA Cup. It was really important to start well and those two goals gave us a lot of confidence.
You always remained confident the strikers would start scoring goals, what has changed if anything that they are scoring regularly now, is it confidence?
Maybe because we haven't changed a lot of things in the training sessions. We prepare the same for every game but now the strikers are scoring goals and maybe they will have more confidence.
What a return for Momo Sissoko, having a hand in both opening goals.
It was important for us to see Momo back. He was involved in the opening two goals and it was really important also for him.
How pleasing was it to see Momo back on the field, especially as some people said he wouldn't play again this season?
I was delighted. Having watched him in training I knew he would be ready to play. Before this game people were talking about his future and I was really disappointed by that. It was fantastic for us to see him playing. He wanted to play and he gives us the energy and the intensity we are always looking for.
He had to play with some protective glasses like Edgar Davids at Tottenham, didn't they steam up in the first half at one point?
Yeah he had some problems with this but you could see the character of the player as he decided to play on without the glasses. We need to protect him for the next games.
How was he at the end of the game, I bet he was over the moon?
Yeah for sure he was really happy. People said he wouldn't play again this season but he is and he will enjoy this situation.
Next up is the small matter of a Merseyside derby against Everton, do you enjoy these games as a manager?
Yeah these games are really good and the atmosphere is fantastic. As a manager you always like to play games with this atmosphere and it will be better for us because we are playing at Anfield.
What do you think makes the Merseyside derby so special for you?
Here is a little bit different to Spain and it's not really like Barcelona v Real Madrid but more like Betis against Seville, because the people are from the same town and they see each other every day. I think it will be a fantastic game.
Everton are on a good run of form at the moment, how difficult do you expect this game to be?
They will have confidence but we are also playing well. I think it will be a good game and we will hopefully see some good goals.
Of course we beat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park back in December, which was an excellent performance wasn't it?
Yeah, we were better than them. We played well and scored good goals and they had problems. Now they are playing well and I think this will be a different game.
Robbie Fowler scored for the reserves on Monday night, how is his fitness at the moment?
He is improving. You can not say he's 100 per cent fit but he's improving every week and enjoying the situation, and he's another possibility we have for this game up front.
Sign up for an annual e-Season Ticket today and you'll not only be able to watch this video and listen to the derby live, but you'll also qualify for a brilliant free gift from liverpoolfc.tv.
Supporters who take advantage of the special offer will be able to choose from a DVD of Liverpool's Double-clinching FA Cup final victory over local rivals Everton or an exclusive 'We all dream of a team of Carraghers' t-shirt.
For those who prefer to wear their love of LFC on their backs, why not choose the t-shirt designed exclusively for new e-Season Ticket holders (oh, and Carragher himself, who was so delighted with the design he nabbed 10 for his friends and family!). Celebrating the legend that is Jamie Carragher and based onthe 'Yellow Submarine'-style chant of 'We all dream of a team of Carraghers', the t-shirt comes in Small, Medium, Large and Extra-Large sizes. |
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