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More encouraging signs for next season
Sorry for the cut and paste (if there are any copyright issues here Rash, let me know), but this makes for interesting reading.
Some of the things Nando says here confirm my view that this season has really been about laying the groundwork for next year. He's never looked fully fit since he arrived and he admits as much. It's also good to see that we're putting performance clauses into contracts now; no more over-paid wasters raking it in whilst sitting on the bench or half-heartedly turning out for the ressies.
As long as we get that fourth place, I'll be more than happy with this season as it will have served its purpose of allowing Rafa to assess the club and players from top to bottom and implement pretty radical change. Next year should be a much more positive season with the right players at the club, fit and acclimatised to English football with a good understanding of their roles within Rafa's tactical system.
IT'S MEDALS NOT MONEY DRIVING KOP ACE NANDO
Liverpool Echo 01 April 2005
IN recent years, certain Liverpool signings have stood accused of using a dream move to Anfield as a means of securing early retirement.
While their bank balance has increased, their performances have alarmingly declined.
Securing a transfer to one of the world's most esteemed clubs proved the beginning of the end of their achievements in football rather than the start of a glorious chapter.
Fernando Morientes is adamant he won't fall into the same trap.
One of Europe's most decorated players insists the challenge of assisting in the rebirth of Liverpool is motivated by the pursuit of happiness and medals, not bank notes.
The striker has the documents to prove it. The Liverpool deal he signed in January included a performance-related clause. Having accepted a significant pay cut, part of Morientes' earnings depend on the Reds winning the title.
The 28-year-old says he was tempted by the challenge of joining his manager on what he describes as an enriching journey which, if successful, will give him more satisfaction than had he joined a club where success was guaranteed.
"In years to come people will be more positive towards Rafa Benitez because they will see he accepted the challenge to rebuild Liverpool," says Morientes.
"He was the manager of a great team in Valencia and could have gone to any club he wanted, particularly one where success would come quick. Instead, he chose Liverpool where there is a lot of work to do. That will earn him more respect.
"For me, Benitez will soon be recognised in England as highly as the top three in the Premiership. I don't know Mourinho or Ferguson, but I now know Benitez very well and I'm sure he will be successful in England.
"When you look at the Premiership table today, there are a lot of points between ourselves and Chelsea, but I think it will be possible to be closer next season.
"I don't know how many more players the club will sign and that's a decision for the manager, but I'm sure Liverpool will be stronger. This season has been very difficult for us for a number of reasons,but from this point I know it will get easier."
Morientes ' passionate tribute to the boss could equally be applied to himself as he turned down better offers to join Liverpool.
It also comes after Jose Mourinho's latest barbed comments are repeated to him. According to Mourinho, 'the biggest myth in football is when a manager says he needs time'.
Such boasts are easy for coaches who inherit strong foundations and a blank chequebook. For the rest still awaiting an invitation to Never-neverland, the reality is somewhat different.
"To say no-one needs time is not true," says Morientes. "A new manager and new players always need time. Benitez has just been here a year. After he's been here another four years, everyone will see how far we've come.
"Benitez is completely different to any manager I've worked with. He lives for football.
"Every moment of every day, it's football, football, football with him.
"If you speak to him after training or you talk on the telephone, there is only one subject.
"I've never worked with anyone else like this and I've played under many managers. They would all concentrate on the game and the training, but after that their work was done.
"Rafa is different because he is always thinking and working for the next match. I like this about him and I can see the fans like this, too. I've never seen fans in Spain sing for a manager in the way the Liverpool fans sing for Benitez."
One of the reasons Benitez paid £6.3m for the 28-year-old was a belief Morientes was cut from the same cloth.
The Liverpool boss embarked on a thorough investigation into the players 'mentality', via his contacts in Madrid, to assess if Morientes had the hunger to succeed at Anfield, or would simply move to England for a bumper pay day.
When the negotiations began, any concerns were quickly dispelled.
The star striker, who is already showing the benefits of his weekly English lessons, shrugs off any sense of surprise at the revelation of his performance-related deal.
"I agreed to this because money is not the most important thing in my life," he said.
"What matters to me is being happy. I've played for many years in my career and made a lot of money. Now, all I want is to enjoy my football and be part of a winning team.
"I want the stability I haven't had in my career for a number of years. I enjoyed my time at Madrid, but not the last two years there because all I did was train and not play. I didn't feel happy.
"I didn't play for five months at Madrid before I came, so physically it's harder for me at the start of my Liverpool career.
"Physically, I'm not well. Only by training hard will I be 100 per cent. At the moment, I've shown only 70 per cent of what I can do.
"It may be next season before you see the real me. I need time to adapt, but I'm sure next season it will be a lot easier for me.
"In Spain there is more quality. There's more long ball and physical play here and I have to jump for the ball a lot more, but I like this style. By the start of next season I will be fresh and it will help because I'm playing in every game.
"My family is settled, my two young children have started school, everything in my life is better."
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Check the writing skills forever coming tight with the quill.
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