Benitez defends Liverpool formation after PSV draw

الأربعاء، 13 سبتمبر 2006 - 16:39

كتب : Megan Detrie

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was unconcerned by the goalless draw against PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League Group C opening match on Tuesday.

"It was our idea to keep a clean sheet and to go forward, and we had enough clear chances to maybe have scored one goal," Benitez said on Liverpool's official website.

"At the end we have one point but I think we created enough chances to win and the one at the end was the most clear," referring to Steven Gerrard's late effort that hit the crossbar.

"We know the players and quality of PSV and then a draw over here is, when you beat them at home, a good result," he added.

The Spaniard defended the decision to bench some of his star players like Gerrard, Sami Hyypia, Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso.

"We cannot play all games at 100 percent. Against Everton was a very difficult game and if you have a good squad you can use other players, that is an advantage," said Benitez.

"We have more options in every game and I always talk about a long race. I don't talk about one game and two games."

Even PSV coach Ronald Koeman was stunned by Benitez's line-up.

"We knew that Benitez makes changes but starting without Crouch, Hyypia and Gerrard, was an enormous surprise for us," Koeman told reporters

The former Dutch international admitted the draw put his team in a tight spot.

"Beforehand we knew that there are no big differences in this group and the results prove that," said Koeman.

"But if you want to qualify you have to get some points away from home, so now we have to beat Galatasaray or Bordeaux in their own stadium."

التعليقات