Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudesis a Spanish football coach currently managing Newcastle United. He is the only manager in history to have won the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup...
create game good tough tried
It was a tough game between two good teams. We didn't create a lot of opportunities, they didn't also. They are strong, good in defense, they pressed. We tried to do the same and it was difficult.
both difficult game
It will be a difficult game for both teams.
cup difficult shall tie
We know each other so well and when you play a cup tie you know it will always be a difficult tie. We shall see what happens.
goals good start
We started really well with two goals and good counter-attacks. But, after we conceded, it was difficult. But the most important thing is to start with a win.
controlled game half organised pressure second
We started off by controlling the game and were well organised and in the second half they did put some pressure on us but then we controlled the game at the end of the game,
alex champions changes letter praising remember sent sir won
I remember Sir Alex sent me a letter of congratulation when we won the Champions League, praising the tactical changes we made at half-time.
champions clearer european hope league maybe
I hope it will be like a European game. It will be better for us. We have a clearer idea in the Champions League and maybe we will have more confidence.
attacks counter lose minutes playing preferred steve tried
I preferred to lose Steve for 80 minutes than for one month. We tried playing second-half counter attacks but we couldn't score.
chelsea good team
Chelsea are a good team but they can be beaten,
beaten champions chelsea close confident league matches season three
But we are confident in the Champions League and now we have Chelsea next, who have beaten us three times this season already. But we were very close to them in all three matches and could have won. We have nothing to lose, only something to win.
clean match points scoring sheets shows start three time
This time we are going into the match with a lot of confidence. We have three clean sheets and two points away from home. That's not bad, but we know we need to start scoring goals. We've done that in midweek, so that shows that's not going to be a problem.
cup determined fans finish job order preparing wonderful
We wanted to finish the job off today, ... in order to concentrate on preparing for the UEFA Cup final. Also, we were determined to do it for all the wonderful fans who have cheered us on today.
arsenal close means second sure third win
With Spurs and Arsenal having to play each other, it means we probably only need one more win to make sure of a top-four finish. We are very close now to securing third place, with second still something we have as a possibility.
behind champions chance cup european league losing move players retaining upset
We still have the FA Cup and we still have the league and a Champions League qualification place to secure. We must put this behind us quickly. My players are very upset by losing the chance of retaining their European title, but the world must move on and we have other things to achieve.