Thursday, May 3, 2007
RAFA BENITEZ: MILAN WILL BE DANGEROUS OPPONENTS
Rafael Benitez watched AC Milan destroy Manchester United's European dreams in style last night and declared: "They're better than two years ago."
The Reds have enjoyed their celebrations since beating Chelsea on Tuesday night but Benitez is now keen to remind his players that the hard work is only just starting and that they'll be facing a side desperate to avenge their final misery in Istanbul. While the Liverpool manager is keen to stress his side is superior to the one which triumphed in the Ataturk Stadium, he also believes Carlo Ancelotti's men have upped their level. "It's clear we are going to play a team with players with a great attitude and quality," said Benitez. "You could see by how hard they worked last night. They are desperate to win the Champions League, and after what happened two years ago we must be very careful. They are a very dangerous opponent for us. "We enjoyed the day on Tuesday, but now that's gone and we must focus on the final. The hard work for the players begins now. The final is not today, it is in a few weeks time and we must start our preparation from this moment. "Some people think because we won two years ago and we also beat Chelsea we will do it again, but this is not the right message. You do not win a trophy for winning a semi-final. Playing well in the final is what's important now. "They are strong in every position. Defensively they are good, they have excellent strikers and in players like Gattuso and Kaka they have two of the best players in the world. "They are a team we will show a lot of respect to. I have said many times we are stronger now than we were two years ago, but I also believe Milan is a better side than they were when we last played each other."
The Reds have enjoyed their celebrations since beating Chelsea on Tuesday night but Benitez is now keen to remind his players that the hard work is only just starting and that they'll be facing a side desperate to avenge their final misery in Istanbul. While the Liverpool manager is keen to stress his side is superior to the one which triumphed in the Ataturk Stadium, he also believes Carlo Ancelotti's men have upped their level. "It's clear we are going to play a team with players with a great attitude and quality," said Benitez. "You could see by how hard they worked last night. They are desperate to win the Champions League, and after what happened two years ago we must be very careful. They are a very dangerous opponent for us. "We enjoyed the day on Tuesday, but now that's gone and we must focus on the final. The hard work for the players begins now. The final is not today, it is in a few weeks time and we must start our preparation from this moment. "Some people think because we won two years ago and we also beat Chelsea we will do it again, but this is not the right message. You do not win a trophy for winning a semi-final. Playing well in the final is what's important now. "They are strong in every position. Defensively they are good, they have excellent strikers and in players like Gattuso and Kaka they have two of the best players in the world. "They are a team we will show a lot of respect to. I have said many times we are stronger now than we were two years ago, but I also believe Milan is a better side than they were when we last played each other."
KAKA RELISHING CHANCE FOR REVENGE
AC Milan midfielder Kaka is relishing the chance to avenge for his side's Istanbul misery when they face Liverpool in this season's Champions League final.
Milan booked their place alongside the Reds in Athens with a brilliant display at the San Siro last night as they ended Manchester United's hopes of setting up the first ever all English final in the competition. Kaka admits the Italians played the perfect game against United and is now looking forward to the possibility of gaining revenge on Liverpool following their penalty shoot-out triumph in Istanbul two years ago. "We have played a perfect game," he said. "We knew against a team like Manchester United that we needed to do something special and we have achieved it with the help of our fans. "I am extremely happy with the way the team has played, we were the best side on the pitch and we deserved to go through. "The final against Liverpool will be a unique game. I sincerely hope it will be different from that of 2005."
Milan booked their place alongside the Reds in Athens with a brilliant display at the San Siro last night as they ended Manchester United's hopes of setting up the first ever all English final in the competition. Kaka admits the Italians played the perfect game against United and is now looking forward to the possibility of gaining revenge on Liverpool following their penalty shoot-out triumph in Istanbul two years ago. "We have played a perfect game," he said. "We knew against a team like Manchester United that we needed to do something special and we have achieved it with the help of our fans. "I am extremely happy with the way the team has played, we were the best side on the pitch and we deserved to go through. "The final against Liverpool will be a unique game. I sincerely hope it will be different from that of 2005."
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