Rafa Benitez Last Quotations

Pepe has an advantage because the team in front of him in defense are working so hard to restrict the chances we concede. The back four have been outstanding. They are organized and have better concentration than last season. But he is also an intelligent boy and he thinks hard about what he has to do in England.

I travelled to Geneva with Sir Alex Ferguson for the UEFA coaches conference last week. He's a nice person.

We are very close and doing better than last year. We want to think about the future and not other teams. We can still win it.

He was unfortunate last season because he had so many injury problems, but if he can stay fit then he will be an important member of our squad this year.

We lost a game we were controlling, we have to think about that. It was the last minute, so it was a disappointing day. It's always difficult to lose in the last minute. We know we have two games in hand, we know it's a long way and we have to keep going.

I'm really disappointed with the last five minutes of the first half.

We worked really hard for the win...after the last performance (a 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic) we showed we had character.

This is very different from the situation last season. This is very good for us. Now we can concentrate on the second round.

That win last season was important for us. They know we can beat them,