 "The players are enjoying the situation they are in and want it to continue. When we were lower in the table with two games in hand, it was hard for them to visualise the position we're now in. "We tried to explain to them things would be better. When we were in the middle of the table I didn't think it reflected our true position because we'd played less games. Some people seemed to forget that. "Now our position makes it easier for me as a manager to inject greater confidence into the players. They can see we have improved." Benitez's determination not to rest on his laurels was summed up following the point at Chelsea. His pride at the manner his team fought to win the group was balanced by a frustration his side didn't actually win the game, prompting one reporter to ask why the Liverpool boss looked so down. "I'm the kind of person who likes to enjoy the moment inside. On Tuesday I knew we'd done a good job. The team worked very hard and controlled the game," he explained. "In the last 20 minutes, Chelsea didn't have one shot. I'm delighted with this, but I know that with two or three better passes at key moments that's a game we could have won. There's just a small difference between drawing and winning that kind of game. Next time we go to Stamford Bridge, we hope to have changed those details to allow us to win. "I feel we only need to change three or four small details and we will be even stronger. Maybe it's a right winger, maybe it's a centre back in case we have injuries. "We still need more balance in the squad. I'm happy with the job my scouting department has done, but we are still working." The list of real and false transfer targets expands by the week. Those lucky enough to put pen to paper will be left in no doubt of the manager's professional code. "The players we need may not be the most expensive in the world. I'm looking for specific types of player," he explained. "I like good professionals, not what some people call 'star' players. My idea of a star player may be different to others. When I tell Steven Gerrard I need him to play on the right, and he does this to the best of his ability, that defines him as a star player in my eyes. "I don't like players who only play for themselves. They are selfish. It's those who understand the needs of the team who are the best. "It's not my idea of a successful team to have one individual as top goalscorer in the league, winning lots of personal awards as his team finishes fifth. "There's no point being the best in a bad team. You want to be the best in a good team and collect trophies." |