Benitez has point to prove

RAFAEL BENITEZ left Spain a champion and returns for the first time with his new side tonight, determined to see things through to the bitter end.

Liverpool's new manager left the Valencia team in fine shape after two championships in three seasons, but insisting he was the victim of internal politics at the Mestalla that undermined his position.

He left behind a superb side who worked like clockwork and had taken the glamour and glory away from the giants of Real Madrid and Barcelona, for a collection of serial under-achievers.

And Spain is waiting to see first hand just what a task Benitez has taken on and how much he has achieved when he sends his new Liverpool out to face Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League, with the fate of both clubs tied up in the game.

Such has been the task of changing Liverpool's fortunes that the Spanish may have already started to doubt his decision to quit his old life.

Surely if he had fallen out with Valencia's rulers, Real Madrid where he played and coached their youth set-up would have soon come calling, so often is the job vacant. Indeed, the post was available a month after he was installed at Anfield.

But there has not been a hint of what-might-have-been about Benitez. Even though his replacement at Valencia, Claudio Ranieri is already under fierce pressure after an erratic start to the defence of their title, Benitez will hear nothing of not seeing the job through in England.

Benitez admits to missing the sun, but his Liverpool are getting it together despite the sale of Michael Owen and the injuries to Steven Gerrard, Antonio Nunez and now Djibril Cisse. They have a game in hand that would put them close to the Champions League top four if they win it. That would be success in itself so early in his reign.

"I am happy with the people, the staff, the players and even the journalists. Now we are playing well, winning more games at home and away. And if you are a manager the most import thing is to see that your team is improving its level and that my family is happy in the city. So I am very happy here.

"I have a five-year contract and want to do important things for Liverpool and in my mind it was to say here for a lot of years. And that would mean we are winning titles." His wife and two young daughters are already living in their new home on the Wirral and the children have started at an English primary school.

They have bought into what Benitez calls "his adventure" wholeheartedly, and he and his family have already been taken to the heart of a club and city who desperately want him to succeed even the Everton fans. "I went out to buy a new TV and the salesman was an Everton fan, and even he wished me luck," said the Spaniard.

Meanwhile the return to Spain is just as important for Benitez's Iberian contingent, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Josemi and Nunez.

And Garcia and Alonso have also spoken of their delight at how they are settling into things at Liverpool.

Garcia said: "The team is getting better all the time and personally I am content. Benitez is a coach who knows what he can get from me. He understands me perfectly and, in truth, at the time of making the decision to come it was important that he spoke with me and convinced me."

Alonso has also been impressed by how well the Spanish new boys have done at the club. He said: "Luis is scoring goals, Josemi is doing well in defence and the fans value him a lot and Antonio, although having bad luck to injure himself, is recovering and is now nearing fitness to play.

"Benitez is a coach who studies football but lives for football, he is always watching games and studying the smallest details. The training, physical preparation, the opposition, everything, he is a coach who studies everything. And we are just starting to know him little by little."

Deportivo coach Javier Irureta has warned his players they will have to improve if they are to beat Liverpool tonight.

"Our passing is slow, there is little depth in it and far too much of the movement is horizontal," he said.