Monday, June 8, 2009

Rafa has Enough Cash to Splash


Rafa Benitez insists Liverpool are ready to secure the 'one or two' top signings required to overhaul Barclays Premier League winners Manchester United.

The Reds boss is delighted with his current squad having overseen our best title challenge since 1990.

Benitez believes a few select improvements could be enough to transform Liverpool from runners-up to champions.

"I think we have enough money to add the one or two players that we need," he said.

"I'm very happy with the squad we've got. This season has been really good and we've competed on all fronts. If we can sign one or two players then I'm really positive that we can improve.

"I won't talk about any figures and I can't say how much we have."

Benitez's confidence in his current crop stems from a record-breaking campaign in which the Reds took Alex Ferguson's men all the way.

"I'm also positive because we were talking recently about how Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard didn't play together for a long time this season," he said. "Hopefully they will play together more next season.

"We've also got good young players like David Ngog, Nabil El Zhar, Ryan Babel and Emiliano Insua, who was playing really well, coming through.

"We have a very good squad but we can still improve a little bit.

"How much can we improve? Enough to win the title? I'm sure it will be enough to compete. Like this year, we will try to compete on all fronts until the end."

Benitez's focus in recent months has been on ensuring the club keeps hold of its star names.

Daniel Agger, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt have all followed their manager's lead by agreeing new deals.

"Some clubs were asking for our players so the priority was to extend the contracts of our key players," he said. "Those players who are the spine of the team.

"We spent some money to guarantee this and now we just have to improve a little bit because we are in a very good position."

Benitez, who signed a new five-year contract back in March, celebrates five years as Liverpool manager next week.

And his appetite for the job remains as healthy as ever.

He added: "When I decided to sign a new contract I did it because Liverpool Football Club is more than a club.

"It is the heart of the city. It is our life and for the people here it means so much. I thought I had to sign. We have to fight, we have to do it.

"Every single year, every single week and every single day when you talk with a fan he is supporting you and supporting the team.

"You can see the passion and it makes a massive difference.

"Our fans are amazing and when I talk with people in Spain they all say the same. We will see it again when we go to Asia in pre-season.

"I receive a lot of letters from people talking about the club. And as I said before this is more than a club."

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