Benitez defends Liverpool reign

FORMER Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez rubbed salt in yesterday’s pain by defending his Anfield legacy.

“I was very clear that when I left we had a better squad than we had in the past, and a better team. We knew we had to bring in better players.

“We left a good team, a very good team. When I left the club, (Javier) Mascherano, (Yossi) Benayoun and (Albert) Riera were there, along with Carra (Jamie Carragher), (Steven) Gerrard, (Jay) Spearing, (Stephen) Darby, (Emiliano) Insua, (Diego) Cavalieri and (Jonjo) Shelvey.

“They cannot talk about legacy when (Christian) Purslow (managing director) and Hodgson signed seven players. They have already changed the squad.”

Benitez concedes that he made mistakes but has suggested he was worn down by off-field problems.

The Spaniard added: “It was a long time, it wasn’t just one thing.

“The feeling was that something was wrong, we couldn’t do what we wanted.”