Benitez: Reds' season starts now - 7M sport

Benitez: Reds' season starts now



Posted Tuesday, December 15, 2009 by teamtalk.com

Manager Rafael Benitez hopes the culmination of Liverpool's Champions League campaign can lead to "the beginning of a new season" for the Reds.

Benitez: Reds' season starts now
Benitez: Saw his side lose in the last minute again

Liverpool were out of the competition before final Group E game against Fiorentina at Anfield, but the manner of the 2-1 defeat summed up their whole Champions League campaign this term.

Benitez has now seen his side concede three damaging late goals - in both matches against Lyon, and now Fiorentina. That has cost Liverpool dearly as the French and Italian sides move on into the last 16.

Liverpool are destined for the Europa League, and they have now been told by UEFA that they will not be seeded in that competition.

Benitez said: "The result and the way it happened just about sums up our Champions League campaign. Another last minute goal, and we are disappointed with that for the third time in this group.

"We are still trying to see the positives, we are playing better and we must now must take that into a very important game at home to Arsenal. It is the beginning of a new season for us now, I hope.

"We will not be seeded in the Europa League, we must cope with that and be strong to handle what ever comes our way now.

"Now we must be ready for the next game on Sunday. We worked so hard, we had chances, so they are the only positives that we can take from the game."

Boss Benitez was happy, though, with the full debut of £20million midfielder Alberto Aquilani, and the return from injury of Fernando Torres.

He said: "To see Aquilani, to see Torres, those were the real positive things for the next match and the rest of our season.

"Aquilani showed his quality, his touch was good. His vision and passing were good, but obviously he will have to work on his match fitness.

"Everyone is available for Sunday, if he trains well he could well be involved against Arsenal.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli was delighted with his side's victory and top spot in Group E.

He said: "I felt tremendous joy when I saw the winner go in and our supporters celebrating.

"I am very proud of the team despite all the absentees, we did not leave our strength behind.

"I said that this game was the beginning of a new future for us, and that is what has happened. We are through to the next stage, a tremendous achievement and topped off with a victory at Liverpool, a true great of European football.

"It is important to have played well at Anfield, we can now grow more. When you win here, against players like Steven Gerrard, a team does grow in confidence.

"We will try now to go into the next stage with this pride and this character, we are not thinking of objectives, just happy to be in the next phase.

"We can find solutions to whatever we are asked to face."

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