BENITEZ INTERVIEW
 The official website has interviewed Rafa now the dust has settled on the Benfica defeat.
Q. Rafa you've had some time to reflect on the performance and the result against Benfica, what are you feelings today?
Rafael Benitez: "I have watched the video and in the first half in terms of the work of the players I was really happy. They worked really hard and in terms of the performance you know you need to score from the chances that you have. We were talking before the game about the importance of not to concede and score before them, but we conceded and couldn't score."
The look on the players faces told its own story, what was the mood in the dressing room like?
"We were really disappointed, all of us. I said to them you must see forward and you must keep going as the responsibility we now have is to think about the future."
The one set of winners on the night were the fans. How did you feel when they chanted 'You'll Never Walk Alone,' your name and also applauded the Benfica players off the pitch?
"For me it was the most positive news to hear the supporters. It was amazing to see the supporters of a team that is out of the Champions League singing like this and it was fantastic."
A lot of talk before the match was about goals and you spoke of confidence in your players that they would be able to score the two, or three if possible goals. In the end there wasn't even one, do you feel as though your players let you down?
"I say before all of us are disappointed but for me we created chances for scoring goals. We conceded a goal but then created more chances. We created a lot of chances in the first half then more at the end of the second half, but youknow we needed to score three goals. If you don't score first then it's always more difficult for the players."
There was three very clear chances towards the beginning of the match. When do you think missed chances stop becoming bad luck and more poor finishing?
I hope to see the team scoring goals soon and maybe this weekend against Arsenal. I say before I have confidence and now I say the same. I have confidence in the team, we are creating chances and I think we will score goals.
You've got to move on now but in hindsight is there anything you would change about your team selection, your substitions or the tactics you employed. Is there anything you would change again?
"Before the game we had some problems with Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise. We used the players that we had available and they worked hard, and for the most part played well. We needed to change to play with three defenders at the end and that is the reason why we conceded the second goal. That wasn't important for me because we couldn't score the first goal which would have changed everything. I am happy with the team selection but not with the final score."
Immediately after the game you spoke about needing to lift the players for the trip to Arsenal. How important is that game now for Liverpool?
"It's really important for us because we have two competitions. To finish in the top four in the Premiership is really important and to be finish second would be better. We know Arsenal are 11 points behind us and it is really important we try to win because maybe we can secure the fourth position."
How difficult will it be to lift the players?
"If they know how important the game is then it will be easier. It's a bad moment after a defeat but we will have time and I think we will be ready for the next game."
Finally, Jose Mourinho said after Chelsea went out he wanted Benfica to win the Champions League, do you have a preference?
"No. If Liverpool are not involved then I would like to see the team that plays better win the Champions League."
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