Chapter 116: Benitez and Liverpool

At Melwood Training Base, clouds in the sky almost touched the roof of Melwood's office building, the tallest building at the training base.

Luton's celebration was still playing on the TV screen, but Benitez sat at his desk, picked up the TV remote and turned it off.

Master Pei took off his glasses, put them on the table, and then walked to the window.

The game sealed the win for Luton Town and the Second Division title, and the reason why Benitez will be looking at a side in the Second Division is naturally because they are their opponents in the FA Cup.

The game reminded Benitez of Liverpool's pattern in the Premier League.

Liverpool are certainly not the Luton of the Premier League – in fact they should be Wycombe Wanderers.

With Liverpool now six points behind Manchester United, with two rounds of the league remaining, there is only a theoretical possibility left to win the title.

In the 37th round of the Premier League, Liverpool will take on West Bromwich Albion away, and before Liverpool's game, Manchester United will host Arsenal, and as long as Manchester United don't lose at home, then they can seal the title - even if it's a draw!

For Rafael Benitez, he is well aware that Ferguson's side cannot afford to lose in such a situation – and when United need a draw to get what they want, Ferguson always gets the game into the rhythm he wants.

Manchester United, who are playing at home, will not give Arsenal any chance.

There is little hope of winning the league title, and the Liverpudlians have been hoping for a league title for almost two decades, but they have never been able to do so, even if Benitez has led Liverpool to a breakthrough in the Champions League, and in the league, even Liverpool's best season, they have finally lost the competition with Manchester United.

Benitez has the title of cup master, and his team is always strong when they are strong and weak when they are weak. Benitez can make several tactical changes in a single game, and his on-the-spot command is commendable, but in the long league game, Benitez's side always seem to fall off the chain on a few smaller teams.

Maybe he's really just a coach fit for a cup game.

This season, Liverpool were held out by Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and failed to reach the last four, but in the FA Cup, they reached the final again!

Benitez remembered his opponent in this final, so he took the time to watch Luton's game.

In fact, Luton's game in the second division is of little reference because their opponents are so weak, and Luton won the second division title with little effort!!

Now it's Liverpool's turn to take on the biggest dark horse in FA Cup history.

Liverpool vs. Luton? It's a joke if you lose to your opponent in the final...

However, in Benitez's heart, there is still a faint uneasiness, for the tactician Benitez, he knows that he is now underestimating the enemy, but.... It's really just a team from the second division.

Although they beat Chelsea and also beat Manchester City... Later they also beat Arsenal...

It was probably this flurry of names that made Benitez a little uneasy.

Benitez stood by the window and thought for a moment, if he won the FA Cup this season, it might not be a bad season....

But if they are to make a difference in the league next season, Liverpool will probably have to invest more money in the transfer market, after all, it will be difficult for Liverpool to remain competitive throughout the season with Gerrard and Torres alone - Gerrard was injured and missed a month during the crucial period of the season, and it was during this month that Liverpool suffered back-to-back draws and then were eliminated by Chelsea in the Champions League.

By the time Gerrard returned, the Champions League had been eliminated, and the league was hopeless...

For Gerrard, Benitez doesn't like it, he even dislikes the absolute leader of the team a little, because in the dressing room, after Benitez finishes, Gerrard always has to say a word or two as the leader of the team, which makes Benitez feel that his rights are restricted...

However, Benitez has to admit that this team must not be without Gerrard.

Both technically and tactically and mentally in the team.

If Rafael Benitez and Steven Gerrard clash, Liverpool will surely choose Gerrard between Benitez and Steven Gerrard – both in Liverpool's board and among their fans.

So he is not very sociable, and even Benitez, who is often criticized for his low emotional intelligence, tries his best to maintain the relationship between him and Gerrard.

The rain was already pouring down from the window, and along with the raindrops, it was Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry who pushed the door in.

Dressed in wind and rain, Rick-Parry grumbled and took off his coat stained with sporadic raindrops, and then walked to the coffee machine to make himself a cup of coffee.

The British like to drink tea, but Benitez doesn't, he likes coffee.

"How's it going?" Benitez put his glasses back on, looked at the equivalent of Liverpool's general manager in front of him and asked.

Rick Parry was silent for a moment.

"Not optimistic," he shook his head, "our two American owners have now shifted their debts to Liverpool FC, and they have made it clear that next season will ...... They don't have any extra money left on their transfer budget. ”

"This damn American..."

Benitez has turned a blind eye to Rick Parry's complaints. He is certainly clear about Liverpool's current situation. At this time, Liverpool is in a powder keg of debt, and the American owner has transferred all his debts to the Liverpool club, and once this part of the debt is not handled well, Liverpool may even face the risk of bankruptcy...

What happens if Liverpool goes bankrupt?

For Liverpool's two American owners, it's a big deal to sell the club and run away, and for Liverpool as a club, it's really a fall into the abyss - once it is not handled well, the whole team will face restructuring, and it is estimated that Liverpool will have to start playing again from the lower league...

It's definitely not something Liverpool fans want to see. So now in the group of Liverpool fans, there are protests against the two American bosses, and in the Liverpool board of directors, there are also board members who have begun to contact privately, ready to expel the two major shareholders from the United States...

But now all this has nothing to do with Benitez, Benitez is only in charge of the competition.

"If you don't bring in new signings, you want to make a difference in the Premier League with the current group of people..."Benitez raised his head, his face was not sad or happy: "Our bench is too thin!! ”

In the face of Benitez's firm answer, Rick Parry is naturally very aware of this.

Alex Ferguson's Manchester United are still one of the strongest teams in the league, and now that Chelsea are backed by the tree of Abou, they have enough money to bring in strong reinforcements every year, and Manchester City now seem to be replicating Chelsea's success, and with Arsenal also being a formidable opponent, the Premier League is more competitive than ever.

Liverpool are now sitting on a powder keg, and what will happen next season, Rick Parker can't say clearly.

"Let's talk about this season, if there is an FA Cup winner, it is reasonable." Rick Parry stirred his coffee and asked tentatively, "Beating Luton isn't a problem for us, is it?" ”

"There's no 100 per cent thing until the game doesn't start!" Benitez shook his head.

As a football coach, caution has always been Benitez's label.

Rick Parker pauses for two seconds before continuing to stir the coffee in his covers.

The atmosphere in the office seems to freeze as well.