SEPTEMBER 10
How The Beatles are giving Rafa his ticket to ride

By Charlotte Bailey - Daily Post

Despite learning English from Liverpool's four most famous sons, Rafael Benitez is still getting to grips with the Scouse dialect.

Benitez's love of The Beatles is just one of the reasons that have drawn the Spaniard to Anfield and he admits the Fab Four's lyrics have helped him to understand English.

"I love The Beatles. So I will never be bored in Liverpool!" he explained.

"I don't have much time to study English now but I learn bits of the language listening to Beatles songs."

But although Benitez is rapidly improving his English conversational skills there is one linguistic problem he is struggling to over-come - the Liverpool accent.

Despite his best efforts the former Valencia manager is still finding Scouse "very difficult" to understand.

However, it is something he is giving priority to as he tries to converse not just with the likes of Jamie Carragher at Melwood, but with the locals in the area he now is making his home.

The manager, who now lives in Wirral with his family, seems to miss the crystal clear waters of the Valencian beaches, as he talked with affectionate nostalgia of its "sun, sea and sand", describing his former home city as "a very pleasant, well-designed town."

However, he has already been charmed by the spirit of the people of Liverpool. He said: "The most important thing is respect. If people respect you that's all you can ask. People here are treating me well so I am happy."

Despite having little leisure time to explore the region as he throws himself into the challenge of reviving Liverpool's fortunes Benitez and his family have also enjoyed Liverpool Cathedral and have been able to look briefly around the Chester area as well.

He did hasten to add that the move had not been too life-changing since, for a football manager, he has essentially kept the same routine.

"My life here as a coach is very similar to in Spain and my family and I are still living 'Spanish hours'. We still eat late in the evening, although I think this will all change when my daughters start school in September. We'll have to adapt a bit."

On the all-important question of British food, it appears Liverpool is taking very good care of that area.

"Unlike most Spaniards, I don't have any problems with the food. But then again, when you have money, you can eat well."

No wonder the Liverpool manager seems to have settled so well already.

AUGUST 16
Benitez steps up the transfer hype

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Rafael benitez has started another busy week in the transfer market by offloading El-Hadji Diouf to Bolton.

The Senegal forward has moved to the Reebok on a season's loan.

Benitez is now working over-time to ensure his squad is strengthened before the transfer window is closed on August 31.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Spurs revealed the lack of strength in depth the Spanish coach has inherited.

Although it's presumed Benitez will try to sign a striker to replace Michael Owen, he's confirmed he'll be improving other parts of the side before turning his attention to the forward line.

Contrary to popular belief, the Spanish coach doesn't have much money to work with.

Part of the £10m he'll earn by qualifying for the Champions' League group stage has already been accounted for due to the capture of Djibril Cisse.

When the Reds concluded the Cisse deal for £14m in July, they were banking on getting through their two- legged qualifier.

The £6m sale of Emile Heskey to Birmingham, £2.5 transfer of Danny Murphy and £8m received for Michael Owen has given Benitez some funds.

He's hoping £10.5m will capture Xabi Alonso this week. Benitez also wants another midfielder as well as Antonio Nunez, who joined as part of the Owen deal.

Barcelona's Luiz Garcia has been a target for several weeks and is quoted at £6m.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, who would have been a more popular acquisition with the fans, ended hopes of a switch to Anfield by signing a new deal at Manchester City on Saturday.

AUGUST 1
Benitez will be given time
to restore the style of old

By Steve Tongue - The Independent

If the employment of Gérard Houllier as joint manager with Roy Evans marked a transition at Liverpool, as the club introduced a first outsider into the Anfield family since a passionate Scot called Shankly arrived from Huddersfield Town 45 years ago, appointing a second foreign manager this summer has brought an iron curtain crashing down on the old days and the old ways.

Evans is long gone, the entente with his new French colleague proving less than cordiale, and as of the end of the season Houllier is history. But so are his assistant Phil Thompson and first-team coach Sammy Lee, representatives of the Seventies and Eighties in a line of former bootroom staff running right back to Shanks himself.

Rafael Benitez has brought in his own men, retaining only the former Hibernian manager Alex Miller as coach and Steve Heighway, who as academy director is the last, tenuous link with the glory days. So what else will this new man bring to the job and the club? Hard work, certainly, from himself and his players, who were putting in long hours at the Melwood training ground before departing for the current three-match tour of the United States and Canada (they beat a weak Celtic team 5-1, lost 1-0 to Porto on Friday and meet Roma on Tuesday).

He is wisely setting no targets and making no boasts, not even opting for the populist vote by promising to transform Liverpool back into the exciting stylists whose passing - and passes - Anfield supporters lamented long and loud (booing optional). "At Valencia last season we scored 71 goals, while Real Madrid scored 72," he said with a Houllier-like reverence for statistics. "We conceded 27 and Real perhaps 40. So we had a balance. For me that's important."

More encouraging for Disenchanted of Dingle is a reminder of how Benitez transformed Valencia into a more entertaining side while keeping them in contention for the important prizes: "When I arrived they had been twice in the Champions' League final. They were a good team. Perhaps a little defensive. So we tried to be more offensive. Most important was to move the defensive line 10 to 15 metres forward, so the team arrived in attacking positions more often and made more possibilities to score. In the second and third years, you could see the difference."

Second and third years... it may still be necessary for the Kop to curb their impatience, for this is clearly a long-term project, as illustrated by the five-year contract that helped make the job such an attractive one: "For a manager that is very important because you have time to change things and do what you want. I don't have a target. I'm not going to say we have to win the Premier League this season. The club have told me we have time. I will work every day with my staff - but not with difficult targets. The only target is to improve."

There are injury worries. Benitez will be in the market for a midfielder after Vladimir Smicer sustained ligament damage against Porto which could keep him out for six months. Djibril Cissé, the £14m striker inherited from Auxerre, has impressed with his pace and control. Signing a Spaniard, Josemi, a right-back or centre-half, from Malaga does not mean a rush of foreign imports: "The English players are important because they know the supporters, the stadiums, the clubs."

The prospects for bridging that gaping gap behind the top three? "It would be very easy to say 'we'll be the best'. We are talking about a gap of 30 points. If we work hard and effectively, and the players want - really want - to win, then I think we can do it."

JULY 28
Shanks spirit vital to Rafa

By Chris Bascombe with The Reds in New York - Liverpool Echo

Scouse power will be a vital ingredient of the new-look Liverpool, according to boss Rafael Benitez.

The Reds coach has stressed the importance of home-grown players - and declared that the spirit of Shankly still courses through the club.

"It's always important to have a core of local players in my team," he said. "But not just local players, players with the right mentality and professionalism. They have to be able to play to a certain level, of course.

"I want players who only want to win. If you have players who are not ready to fight for the team they are no use.

"I think I have players here who are willing to do this. Players like Gerrard, Murphy and Carragher feel Liverpool. That's a beginning for me.

"The spirit of Shankly is important here and it's important to them."

Benitez has hit the ground running at Anfield, with back-to-back pre-season victories, including a thrilling 5-1 demolition of Celtic. But he has warned Liverpool's fans not to get carried away.

Benitez knows there are far sterner tests to come, starting with the clash with European champions Porto in Toronto on Saturday.

"You always need to keep everyone calm, even if you've won a game 5-1," said Benitez.

"If you say now the team is wonderful and we are the best, the supporters will expect us to win all the matches. Little by little, game by game, I ' m feeling happier.

"But we must still recognise those things we've done badly and correct them. When the river is flowing downwards, then you must swim against the tide. When it's flowing upwards, you must paddle stronger in the opposite direction."

JULY 28
Benitez's vision for Reds mixes
Milan, Madrid and Shankly spirit

By Chris Bascombe In New York - Liverpool Echo

It's traditional for new Liverpool managers to use the great Anfield teams of old as their perfect vision for the future of the club.

So it makes a refreshing change to hear Rafael Benitez has an even bolder dream for the team he is building.

How do the finer elements of the great AC Milan and Real Madrid sides, mixed with the essential 'Spirit of Shankly' sound??

Benitez does not claim to have grown up watching Liverpool. He never stood on the Kop. His memory of the 1981 European Cup final was watching a recording on Beta-max video.

He also admits when new signing Josemi arrives, he will be pointing him in the direction of Jamie Carragher to be fully briefed on what the Scousers expect when a player wears a red shirt.

But, as student of the greatest sides Europe has ever produced, he is deadly serious about creating a new Liverpool from the finest continental models.

"My favourite team was Real Madrid in the era of Emilio Butragueno, but I would say the AC Milan team of the 80s was one of the best teams there has ever been," says Benitez.

"Barcelona, with Johann Cruyff, played with two wingers and a 3-4-3 formation which was very exciting. All three were great teams, but the difference with Milan is they played very well in attack, very well in defence and very well in counter-attack. For me, this made them the best team.

"Nowadays, it may be impossible to see another team like Milan. You have to work with the same players at a top level for about three years and that's not easy. Each season teams change a lot of players.

"You need to have 10 or 15 players at the centre of the squad and maybe change two or three players at the end of a season.

"Also, it's always important to have a core of local players in my team. But not just local players, players with the right mentality and professionalism. They have to be able to play to a certain level, of course.

"I want players who only want to win. If you have players who are not ready to fight for the team they are no use.

"I think I have players here who are willing to do this. Players like Gerrard, Murphy and Carragher feel Liverpool. That's a beginning for me.

"The spirit of Shankly is important here and it's important to them. I want the players who come here to understand that as well.

"I will try to explain, but it's easier for Gerrard, Murphy or Carragher to do so. When Josemi is here, they will talk to him."

For Liverpool to emulate a Milan team which won two European Cups under Arrigo Sacchi will take a journey beyond several time zones, and possibly the twilight zone, too.

Most judges have credited Liverpool with defending and counterattacking well enough in recent times. Keeping the ball and pinning opponents in their own half is another matter.

Benitez assures fans this style is crucial to his philosophy.

"We want the philosophy of keeping the ball more and pushing teams back, but this also depends on the opposition," he said.

"Yes, we want to keep the ball, but if you have to defend because the other team is very good in attack, then don't worry about it.

" Obviously, it all depends who we're playing. We need to learn how to do both styles well. We not only need to be good offensively, but defensively. It's all about balance.

"Against Celtic, for example, because we played better than they did we were able to keep the ball for a long time and do plenty of over-laps and transfer the ball from one side of the pitch to the other.

"It was possible for us to use our forwards because we kept the ball a lot. But during a 20- minute spell, Celtic kept the ball more than us."

It is clear the training pitch is where Benitez feels he communicates best. There is a self-belief his coaching skills will make Liverpool a powerful force again.

He added: "How long will it take to be successful here? That depends on the players. If they improve a lot and show a good mentality, each day they can give me something better. Then six months may be enough, or one year. Sometimes it takes longer.

"It's still too early to say how quickly they will learn. I need more time to understand them. I hope when my English is better I will transmit my ideas better.

"Against Celtic, I had to write on a piece of paper to change the position of Cisse. I told Steve Warnock to tell Danny Murphy and Cisse where I wanted them to go. In the future, I won't need to do this.

"It's very important for me to be at the centre of training. I need to transmit my ideas.

"If you are always away from training, how will you make them understand? I want to discuss everything with my players. Making them understand what I want is the most important thing for me now.

"I will tell them they have to do it the way I say because it's better for the team."

JULY 20
Benitez blasts Valencia

By Mark Kendall - Planet Football

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has launched a fierce broadside at former club Valencia and insists he was forced out of the Spanish club by a lack of support.

Benitez left Valencia in acrimonious circumstances after leading the Mestalla outfit to a Spanish league and Uefa Cup double last term.

He chose to walk away to take charge of Liverpool despite having one year left on his contract.

The Primera outfit are now threatening to take legal action against the former Tenerife coach, but he insists that his former club are showing double standards and have no-one but themselves to blame for his departure.

Benitez had a very strained relationship with Valencia's director general Manuel Llorente and director of sport Jesus Garcia Pitarch and claims it was their lack of interest during contract negotiations that made his mind up to leave.

When asked why he left, Benitez told Marca: "Obviously through lack of support and not being valued.

"Some people want to spread the idea that my relationship with the club is bad, but I am very grateful to Valencia and their fans.

"However, the person (Llorente) who negotiated with my agent did not have much interest in me continuing at the club but now we seem like the bad guys.

"He (Llorente) took the negotiations for two months and all the evidence and testimonies indicated that he was simultaneously interested in other coaches when I still had a year on my contract.

"Two months of negotiations is enough time for you to realise the interest and valuation they have of you."

Benitez also slammed Valencia's decision to launch a legal action against him.

"It's incredible that they can demand damages from us when the president, Mr Orti, said in an interview that there was no bad intention from me and that I had not caused damage to the club.

"I believe it is a strategy to get some money from Liverpool and I don't understand it.

"I can only think the explanation is that someone wants to try and justify their errors and they have been made to believe that doing it through the courts makes it look like they are being strong to the fans.

"I believe that the majority of the (Valencia) fans have realised what was going on and events since have proved the lack of support we had."

Benitez also revealed that Liverpool was not the only job offer that he had received, but insisted that despite not being his most financially attractive option he always wanted to go to Anfield.

He went on to add that he did not plan to raid his former club for players despite being linked with the likes of Roberto Ayala, Pablo Aimar and Mista.

"Of the options I had it (Liverpool's) was the most attractive in terms of the project and length of the contract.

"There were others that were better economically, but it was the most interesting on a sporting level.

"Despite the misinformed rumours that have come from the club (Valencia) that (going back for players) is not my intention.

"I don't want the fans to think that I want to do damage to the Valencia. Only if there was interest from both sides would I consider it."

JULY 20
Low-key Benitez shows he is focused

By Mark Lawrenson - Daily Post

Apart from a brief hello to the supporters on the first day of training, you'd have been hard pressed to know that Rafael Benitez has taken over at Liverpool.

The Spaniard has kept the lowest of low profiles, especially when you see Jose Mourinho giving nightly inter-views on television.

I don't think this is a bad thing though, because it shows Benitez is focused on the most important area of his now job - assessing his players and preparing them for the season.

That desire to get the hard work done out of the spotlight can only help Liverpool's players, as well as allow him to weed out the weak links - shown by El Hadji Diouf not receiving a squad number.

Benitez realises that now is the time to do all the tough jobs, because he is at his strongest now as a new manager. Whenever he goes to Rick Parry with a request, it will be granted so he should be taking advantage of that to get the club set up how he wants it.

It will be good to see what influence he has had in the game against Wrexham, but I don't expect any great revelations in terms of style or formation just yet.

At this stage of pre-season, the priority is to get the players fit, but after that - and with the return of Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Milan Baros - I would expect him to start imposing his beliefs on the team because he will be doing a lot of work on patterns of play.

The time in America will be crucial for that, and I expect the Liverpool that play in the final game there against Roma to be very similar to Benitez's planned first team.

JULY 13
Benitez: We have the stars to win again

By Rob Brady - Liverpool Echo

Rafael Benitez has revealed his delight with the talent he finds at his disposal after taking charge at Liverpool.

As he seeks to make the club a force again, the Reds new Spanish manager is relishing working with England stars Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, plus new £14m striker Djibril Cisse.

Benitez said: " We have signed good players. Cisse is a very good player, as are Gerrard and Owen. We have a lot of players now with good mentality.

"If we maintain this mentality the team will continue to move upwards. We want a competitive team. I said to the players that if we work hard we will have possibilities."

Although he has only been at his desk for 48 hours, Benitez has demonstrated that he is in touch with the mood of the Reds supporters, who want to see quality football next season.

Keen to deliver, the new boss said: "I have my own ideas. My idea is similar to what the supporters want.

"Everyone wants us to play fast and with a good mentality. To be aggressive, but positive. I think the people want this style of play and the players also do.

"We need only time. Always the manager says the same. You have to be patient.

"Already I have seen the supporters are very happy and we want to give them plenty to be happy about in the future.

"I promise them we will work extremely hard and will do everything right to build a competitive team that is determined to win every competition we enter."

JULY 12
I'll fight for glory

By Rob Brady - Liverpool Echo

Rafael Benitez was today beginning his first day as Liverpool manager - and he vowed to fight to bring the title back to Anfield.

He arrived at Melwood training ground this morning to meet his squad. Benitez has promised to instill in his side a strong, winning mentality.

The affable and determined 44-year-old becomes the first Spanish manager in the Premiership and is already one of the most respected coaches in Europe.

He won the Primera Liga title in his first season in charge at Valencia and clinched it again last season.

Benitez told the ECHO: "When I arrived at Valencia people said it was difficult to win the league in the first season.

"I won't say it will be the same here, but I will fight hard.

"We need time, but perhaps we have a surprise for the supporters.

"The message to the fans is the same as to the players. We have to work hard and have the good mentality that there has always been at Liverpool.

"Last year they worked hard, but we have to improve because we want to be at the top."

Thor Zakariassen ©