New boss Benitez ready to change Liverpool mentality

RAFAEL BENITEZ insisted he was undaunted by the prospect of restoring Liverpool to the pinnacle of English football after being officially unveiled as the club's new manager yesterday.

The Spaniard has signed a five-year deal at Anfield after quitting Valencia whom he guided to a Spanish League and UEFA Cup double last season.

Benitez who called his Anfield appointment a "dream" believes hard work and team-building is the key to overhauling Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

But he will lose no sleep over the quality of those rivals on the back of his double title success in Spain.

Benitez said: "I know it is a hard job because last season the difference between the top three and the others was not good. But Valencia was the same, we had Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top. You have got to change that mentality. If necessary I will change the mentality here. The most important thing is to be a team."

Benitez's first task upon the conclusion of Euro 2004 will be to sit down with Liverpool's England stars whom he considers crucial to the future.

Steven Gerrard's future is already in doubt this summer but Liverpool believe the promise of silverware under Benitez can persuade him to stay.

The manager added: "It is very important that I talk to players like Gerrard and (Michael) Owen about my ideas. I need players like them with a good mentality and quality and they know all about what Liverpool means. I did not just come here to learn English but to win. I want players who have the same mentality and if they do not, it will not be possible."

Benitez, 44, continued his emergence as one of the finest coaches in Europe by leading Valencia past Marseille to claim the UEFA Cup in Gothenburg last month.

It was an achievement made all the more remarkable by the modest beginnings to his career. He was sacked from his first coaching job at Valladolid in 1995 then lasted just nine games with Second Division Osasuna.

However, later promotions with Extremadura and Tenerife rescued Benitez and marked him out.

In 2001 he justified Valencia's faith by leading them to their first Spanish League title in 31 years in his first season in charge.

Benitez is not promising such instant success at Anfield. But he is aware of the expectation levels at a club which once took success for granted.

Benitez added: "I know that Liverpool is one of the most important clubs in the world and its history is wonderful. I said the same thing when I arrived at Valencia and in my first year we won the league but in the Premiership it is very different.

"It is bad to say we will do it in one year or two years but the right thing is to work hard and prepare for every match each day."

Reports from Spain have already linked Liverpool's new boss with a number of his former Valencia players, but he refused to mention any by name yesterday.