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Benitez vows to keep focus on Premiership
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Rafa Beintez insisted his team will not be distracted by the prospect of their Champions League semi-final with Chelsea despite evidence to the contrary during a lacklustre 0-0 draw at Manchester City.
The two teams ground out a goalless stalemate on Saturday that looked very much like a meaningless end of season encounter.
Yet, Liverpool are still in a contest with Arsenal to finish in third place in the Premiership and City, finally clear of relegation concerns after their recent mini-revival, were looking to end a depressing goalless sequence at the City of Manchester Stadium that has now extended to nine hours and 20 minutes in the Premiership.
However, Benitez insisted that his own players were not guilty of having an eye on the imminent European tie.
"I'm disappointed because we had very clear chances in the first half. For the first 45 minutes we had plenty of possession and, if we had taken those chances, it would have been very different," he said.
"But I don't think the players had an eye on the semi-final. If we had started the game the way we finished it then, yes, maybe you could say they were thinking about the semi-final of the Champions League.
"But we started the game really well, tried to move forward, kept the ball and had chances. So, for me, that's not the case.
"In the first half, when we were moving the ball, we had options but you need to score to change the game. Then, in the second half, we were under pressure from throw-ins, free-kicks and corners but they didn't have clear chances.
"I know people will talk about the Champions League but we needed to win the points today. We need to get a top four place as soon as possible and this is one more point and one less game to go. Once we are in the top four for sure, then we will be thinking about the Champions League."
City's barren run at home is a depressing statistic that says much about their lack of ability to break down stubborn opposition and they rarely threatened to improve against Liverpool.
American winger DaMarcus Beasley struck the cross-bar for the hosts after displaying what was a rare piece of skill with his intricate footwork carving a 74th minute opening, and Xabi Alonso almost managed to chip Andreas Isaksson with an effort from five yards inside the Liverpool half.
City manager Stuart Pearce, his own job security apparently secure after the recent climb up the table, left the game on the final whistle, dashing to catch a plane to scout potential close-season targets in a game in Europe on Sunday.
But his assistant Steve Wigley echoed Benitez in claiming there had been no lack of effort on the part of his players.
"We've been on a good run of late, that's five games unbeaten and four clean sheets and obviously we are looking to keep the momentum going right until the end of the season," he said.
"We were playing Liverpool, European champions 18 months ago and maybe European champions again this season, so our players had to concentrate and work hard and that's what they did," said Wigley.
"They've been very focused for the last five games.
"There's a relief in respect of us having 41 points but the season doesn't end here. There are still five games to go and we'd like to get as many points as possible.
"In any given season, players are playing for their futures at this time, striving to get an improved contract or to just stay at a club like this, and our players are no different."
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