Football Talk - Reds duo support Benitez - 27/11/09
Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina have offered their support to under-pressure manager Rafa Benitez.
Benitez has seen his position at Anfield come under scrutiny following their midweek exit from this season's Champions League. Liverpool have won just two of their past 11 competitive matches and will be looking to this weekend's derby game against Everton as a springboard for the remainder of the season.
Torres, who is hoping to be fit for the showdown with Everton as he struggles with a groin problem, believes Benitez is the man to turn things round and has called for solidarity within the ranks.
"Benitez has shown that he is the right man to take Liverpool forward," Torres said. "When the club has needed to be strong it always has been. Now is the time for everybody to stick together from the manager right down to the lowliest member of staff because above all else we want to make our wonderful fans happy with our performances and results. We must be united to finish as high as possible in the Premier League. I am convinced that we will end up in the top four. We also have high hopes for the FA Cup and the Europa League.
At this time, this tournament has become a goal for the club. Nobody expected it [to be knocked out] because this team has shown itself over recent seasons to be very reliable. This is a competition that we won in 2005 and on another occasion [2007] we got to the final. Since I have been with the club we have got to a semi-final and a quarter-final."
Reina also dismissed suggestions that Benitez has lost the support of the players at Liverpool. "Benitez has 100 per cent credibility and support among the players," said Reina.
"He is a great coach and he knows how to get the best out of his players. He has done important things for Liverpool and will continue to do so. When he is under pressure, that's when he brings out the best in himself. He is perfectly capable of turning the situation around at Liverpool. The fans know that, for a number of reasons, results are not good now but they will be again. We need a bit of good luck for things to get back to normal: we have had so many players injured - like Torres, Benayoun and Riera."
Reina also highlighted the absence of Torres through injury as a major reason for Liverpool's struggles this season. "We all know that Torres at 70 per cent fit is still better than lots of strikers on the planet at 100 per cent," added Reina. "It's important for us that he recovers and recovers fully. Liverpool are one team with Torres and another, different team without him. It's not that we depend on him but he is very important because he inspires respect in the opposition."
