The man still hasn't lost his sense of humour, from an interview on LFC.TV he was asked the following question by journalists :
What do you feel are the differences between AC Milan - a side you have faced twice in the final of this competition - and Inter? The difference between AC Milan and Inter is in the shirt. But they are a good team that are top of the league and they are a fantastic side with players with a lot of quality.
Full interview: Fabio Aurelio first: Journalist - After the disappointing result at the weekend, how would you say confidence is amongst the players?
Aurelio - I think confidence is very high. I think we just have to prepare for the next game, it is another competition and I think the chance for both the teams is 50/50. We are still alive in the Champions League and we want to progress and fight for another title.
How difficult is it going to be for you and the players to put Saturday's result behind you ahead of meeting Inter Milan?
It was a big disappointment for all of us, but like I said, this is another competition. We know that the history of Liverpool in the Champions League is very good and we will try to keep that. We have a lot of confidence in the ability of our team and we know that playing the first game at home, it is a good opportunity to keep things alive for the second game. We go into tomorrow's game with very good expectations.
Inter's record in Italy this season is fantastic, how highly do Liverpool players rate them right now?
We know that they have been doing really good in their league. They are a top side, but we know that in the Champions League if you want to progress and fight for the title, you have to beat the great teams in Europe. Inter are one of them and we know that it will be a very difficult game, but we need to believe in ourselves as well.
How much do you feel the players are playing for the confidence of the manager as much as for the success of the team at the moment?
We know that all of us are involved in the same situation. All of us are working for the same thing and that is the best for this club. If the club is doing well and progressing, everyone is happy, but if it's not, then everyone is not happy. We can only change the situation if we all work together and we have a great opportunity now in the next game.
It was clear at the end of the game on Saturday that some of the fans weren't happy, what kind of atmosphere do you expect tomorrow?
I expect the fans to be with us, like they are in all the games at home. I expect the fans will be 100 per cent with us, pushing us and helping us to do our best to win the game.
Which Inter players will you have to keep an eye on tomorrow?
Who are their key men?
That's difficult to say because they have a lot of very good players. If you want to win against a top team like Inter you have to be concentrated and do your best job in defence, midfield and attack.
Ibrahimovic has been in good form, what do you think about him?
He is a quality player and can score goals, we need to be careful of him and his team-mates.
Rafael Benitez Journalist - Rafa, how different is your side likely to be compared to the one that started against Barnsley on Saturday?
Rafa - Maybe we will see some different players. It is another competition and a few days later so maybe we will see some others and also those that were not fit, maybe they will be available.
Does that mean you are likely to start with the likes of Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Steven Gerrard?
If they are available that could be the case.
How would you describe confidence in the side at the moment?
I think the team played well against Chelsea and against Sunderland and had a lot of opportunities against Barnsley, so we have tried to prepare right mentally and I think that the team is ready and it will be different.
Jamie Carragher has spoken out following the Barnsley game, saying "It isn't just a bad run, it's gone on much longer than that." When a senior member of the squad says something like that, how does it make you feel?
We were talking about this and he came and explained to me what he wanted to say. Everybody knows we are really disappointed and we must improve.
Is the tie with Inter Milan now your main priority?
We try to think about one game at a time and every competition we are involved in, in a different way. In this case we cannot change the situation in the other competitions so we must be thinking about this game (Inter) and also about the Premier League. We have to target the Champions League to go as far as we can, and in the league we must fight for the fourth position and see what happens in the future.
Do you feel you have to succeed in the Champions League this season to safeguard your position and your reputation?
I think we must think about just to win the next game and not talk about the other things.
Do you feel this is the most difficult period in your career as a manager?
Yes but if we win and move ahead it will become the easiest one as well.
Liverpool have done rather well under your leadership in Europe after one or two bad games domestically, is there any reason for this?
Well we must win, because we have to change what is happening so we must win.
Jamie Carragher compared this match to that of the eve of Barcelona last year. Do you agree with him and think you could secure a similarly good result this time around?
Yes. There is no reason why not. That could easily happen.
What do you feel are the differences between AC Milan - a side you have faced twice in the final of this competition - and Inter?
The difference between AC Milan and Inter is in the shirt. But they are a good team that are top of the league and they are a fantastic side with players with a lot of quality.
This is a difficult period for you and there are rumours that your job could be under threat. But given your record here and the fact you have won the Champions League here, how do you feel about that?
I just want to focus on this match and win this match.
What do you think of Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
He is having a very good season. He is a player we know, with great quality and he is playing very well. He will be a threat to us.
How will you stop him?
The players will try. It will be difficult but we have our ideas.
Do you feel you will have to play a Premier League style game in order to win this match?
It could be an option. They don't have many weaknesses so it will be difficult to find them. We have some ideas and will try to use the qualities we have in our squad.
Are you particularly worried about their ability at set pieces?
We must be worried about everything because they are a very good side in set pieces and in open play. We must control everything.
Anfield is famous for its atmosphere on a European night. What is your expectation tomorrow, do you feel the majority of supporters are behind you?
I think they must be behind the team and that is the key part. Normally they are, and when you have You'll never Walk Alone it is something.
There are quite a few comparisons between now and 2004/05. You ended up smiling that season, do you see anything within the camp that reminds you of that?
The atmosphere between the players is not as bad as people think. We have confidence and we know that it is another competition and we will try to win this game and then do the same against Middlesbrough, then it will be different.
You keep being criticised for rotation. Do you feel that is fair?
When you change a player, then people talk about rotation. Whether it is one, two or three, then it is rotation. Other managers change players, but at the end of the day all that matters is the result.
You are often quoted as saying you are fascinated by Italian football, so have you ever been close to moving into Italian football?
Yes, I like Italian very much but I am also very happy here.
