SOCCER/Uefa Champions League/Liverpool v AC Milan: Rafael Benitez will instigate a ruthless overhaul of his Liverpool squad this summer to ensure they mount a more coherent challenge for the Premiership next season, regardless of whether the current personnel claim a sixth European Cup for the club tomorrow.
The Spaniard made his long-term intentions clear by insisting a second Champions League final against Milan in three seasons is "just a stopping point on the way" to even greater success. That will come at the expense of some members of the travelling party, waved off by the landing crews from the Tarmac at John Lennon airport yesterday, as the manager reshapes his squad, just as he did after their victory in Istanbul two years ago.
"I know we can still improve," Benitez said. "The team must be more proactive. We are already better tactically than we were, and the players are definitely cleverer now having learned a lot and having gained more experience. But we can also improve by bringing in players with character, quality and experience.
"We know we have to progress and we need to keep moving forward to challenge for the Premiership. Winning a European Cup is a great thing; it would be very welcome, and we want to be a strong side and win trophies along the way. But the aim is not to simply win this trophy. It is to get stronger and to challenge in the Premier League next season.
"It will be an important summer. The American owners have now been at the club for a few months and can see what's possible here. Every time I have spoken to them it has been positive and we will be talking again after the final."
Benitez has already been active in the transfer market, with the Ukraine international Andriy Voronin signing on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen and the South American midfield pair of Lucas Leiva and Sebastian Leto due to move to Anfield next month. Further reinforcements are expected with a striker capable of scoring 20 goals a season a priority - Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively remain plausible targets - with Benitez expecting to benefit from up to £40 million pumped into the club by the owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
Robbie Fowler has already been informed that he will not be offered a contract, while the likes of Jerzy Dudek, Harry Kewell, Sami Hyypia, Boudewijn Zenden, Mark Gonzalez, Djibril Cisse and even Craig Bellamy may all leave.
Benitez continues to monitor Zenden's fitness - the Netherlands international having turned an ankle at the training camp in Spain last week, with the midfielder making steady progress in his recovery - but the manager should otherwise have a fully fit squad from which to choose.
"We want to achieve even more," Benitez added. "It is important not to think that by getting to the final we have done everything, because we have the potential to be one of the biggest clubs in Europe in every way. And by making our second Champions League final in two years we have shown what can be achieved. We are already one of the most famous names in football and it's a perfect opportunity to take advantage of this. Now we hope to achieve even more."
Guardian Service
