..............................unfortunatley for the Rafa haters it is not a house in Turin
Reds boss confesses he wants to make five summer signings
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has admitted that he may need to buy almost half a new team in order to restore his club's fortunes after defeat in the Europa League semi-finals.
The Reds were dumped out of the continental competition at Anfield on Thursday night after losing on away goals following extra-time to Atletico Madrid, who will now face Fulham in the final.
Liverpool's last remaining target in an incredibly disappointing season is now an against-the-odds fight for fourth place in the Premier League and the pressure will be on Benitez if that objective is not met.
The Spaniard acknowledges the campaign has been a let down and he will hope new buyers for the club can be found in the summer in order to fund the recruitment of as many as five new players.
Benitez, who has already agreed a deal with Charlton for Jonjo Shelvey, confessed: "Someone said we needed four or five players. I would more or less agree with that. That is what we have to do.
"Liverpool is a massive club. There has been a change in the last two or three years. We have had to balance the books and manage in this way.
"I do not know whether I will have any funds. We will find out in the summer. But the name is there and we have to do our best for it."
Juventus are said to be keen on the Spaniard, who saw his hopes of leading Liverpool to a third European final under his charge collapse as goals from Alberto Aquilani and Yossi Benayoun were rendered meaningless by Diego Forlan's strike.
Benitez was cagey about his future, refusing to look any further ahead than the two games his side have left.
"The future is Chelsea. And then Hull," he said.
For Atletico, it was a glory night, allowing them to revel in the joy of becoming the only Spanish side to reach a European final this season.
"No-one would have expected this," said coach Quique Sanchez Flores. "We are happy to represent our country and be Spain's only team in a European final.
"It was an amazing night. You can't come to Anfield without knowing you are going to suffer some difficult moments but we were the stronger side in extra-time and deserved to go through."
Now they must deny Fulham a magical end to one of the most staggering seasons in the London club's proud history, and Sanchez Flores is wary.
"Never trust any team that goes all the way to the final," he said. "Any English team will be very competitive and Fulham are no exception."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6123917,00.html
Reds boss confesses he wants to make five summer signings
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has admitted that he may need to buy almost half a new team in order to restore his club's fortunes after defeat in the Europa League semi-finals.
The Reds were dumped out of the continental competition at Anfield on Thursday night after losing on away goals following extra-time to Atletico Madrid, who will now face Fulham in the final.
Liverpool's last remaining target in an incredibly disappointing season is now an against-the-odds fight for fourth place in the Premier League and the pressure will be on Benitez if that objective is not met.
The Spaniard acknowledges the campaign has been a let down and he will hope new buyers for the club can be found in the summer in order to fund the recruitment of as many as five new players.
Benitez, who has already agreed a deal with Charlton for Jonjo Shelvey, confessed: "Someone said we needed four or five players. I would more or less agree with that. That is what we have to do.
"Liverpool is a massive club. There has been a change in the last two or three years. We have had to balance the books and manage in this way.
"I do not know whether I will have any funds. We will find out in the summer. But the name is there and we have to do our best for it."
Juventus are said to be keen on the Spaniard, who saw his hopes of leading Liverpool to a third European final under his charge collapse as goals from Alberto Aquilani and Yossi Benayoun were rendered meaningless by Diego Forlan's strike.
Benitez was cagey about his future, refusing to look any further ahead than the two games his side have left.
"The future is Chelsea. And then Hull," he said.
For Atletico, it was a glory night, allowing them to revel in the joy of becoming the only Spanish side to reach a European final this season.
"No-one would have expected this," said coach Quique Sanchez Flores. "We are happy to represent our country and be Spain's only team in a European final.
"It was an amazing night. You can't come to Anfield without knowing you are going to suffer some difficult moments but we were the stronger side in extra-time and deserved to go through."
Now they must deny Fulham a magical end to one of the most staggering seasons in the London club's proud history, and Sanchez Flores is wary.
"Never trust any team that goes all the way to the final," he said. "Any English team will be very competitive and Fulham are no exception."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6123917,00.html
