Unirea Urziceni 1 - 3 Liverpool (Agg. 1-4)
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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez gets grilled by Romania's press and asked: Why are you so fat?
'Good night': Rafa Benitez was not impressed with the questions asked by the Romanian media
Unirea Urziceni vs Liverpool
Thursday 25 Feb 2010
Channel 61 Football Frenzy : 1.45 am (Live) (Fri morning)
Europa League Cup
Rafa Benitez was quizzed about his weight in a bizarre press conference in Bucharest, prior to Liverpool's Europa League last 32 return leg with Unirea Urziceni.
The Liverpool manager has occasionally complained of harsh treatment from the English press but has never experienced anything like the line of interrogation adopted by Romania's media, in a first-floor suite of the team's hotel barely an hour-and-a-half after their charter jet touched down at Bucharest Airport.
He had already been grilled about travel arrangements that have been viewed in some quarters as a sign of disrespect towards Unirea, when local journalists turned up the heat with a string of provocative questions.
One asked how it felt to be taunted about the sack by opposing fans, another wanted to know the salary he would demand to coach a Romanian club and a third told him he had piled on the pounds since Liverpool's Champions' League final triumph over AC Milan nearly five years ago.
To Benitez's credit, he answered each one with a broad smile after stoutly defending his decision to delay departure from Liverpool until the middle of the afternoon, thereby foregoing the chance to train at Thursday night's venue, the Steaua Stadium in Bucharest.
The inquisition began with a suggestion that, by flying in late and heading back to Liverpool straight after the final whistle, he was taking the threat of the Romanian champions lightly.
'Not at all,' he replied. 'I just had to work out what would be the best preparation for the team, and I just felt that working on formations and set-pieces at Melwood before, rather than after, a three-hour flight would be the right option.
'As for after the game, if it goes to extra-time, the plane will wait, because it is a charter. Don't make the mistake of thinking we are taking anything for granted.'
In the line of fire: Benitez was quizzed about Liverpool's travel arrangements
It got personal after that, as he was bluntly asked how he coped with standing in the technical area and hearing opposing supporters chant: 'You're getting sacked in the morning.'
Unruffled, the under-pressure Spaniard claimed: 'I don't listen to them. When you are on the sidelines, watching your team, you are not aware of anything else. You are in the zone and concentrating only on what is happening on the pitch. Anyway, I don't always understand. My English still isn't all that good.'
Benitez was just as diplomatic over another direct query about what 'fee' he would expect to take over a side in Romania.
'It's not just about money,' he said. 'It's about being at the right club, and I feel I've got the right job now at Liverpool.'
With press officer Ian Cotton trying to wind up proceedings, the best was saved until last as the gentleman who brought up the subject of sack-related chants had the final word.
'Mr.Benitez,' he said. 'The last time I saw you was at the 2005 Champions' League final, and your, erm, silhouette seems to have changed since then. Why is that?'
Breaking out into a grin, Benitez responded: 'It is the stress of having to answer so many questions from the press. Thank you and goodnight.'
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is he the only fat manager in the premiership?
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i tink guus hiddink's belly can fight.
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as much as i dislike rafa's ways of managing, this is simply unacceptable, this is personal attack.
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this is a mind game lar lol. so desperate to use this to try to put off the opponent.
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The press should know better then to ask such questions.
Don't they know Rafas life long dream is to replace Danny Devito as the legendary Penguin in batman returns?
Now all he needs is someone to break his nose and long curly hair.
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rafa should say romania is a vampire country of bloodsuckers. maybe the american owners are from there originally.
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rafa kept his cool. great job.
but he should reply 'you guys will know during the matchday'
well anyway, glad that no one is feeding the troll already!
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tubby..
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rafa should answer, "why you so like that?"
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well since the reporter's romanian, maybe rafa could have asked him, "then u? why u look like dracula?" hehe
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Originally posted by ASKL!:
rafa kept his cool. great job.
but he should reply 'you guys will know during the matchday'
well anyway, glad that no one is feeding the troll already!
rafa standard answer is this. I prefer to talk about the match.
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they kinda felt that Rafa takes their team lightly hence all this BS, but well, as long as Liverpool wins then everthing should be fine, however, i still would prefer to at least let the team had a feel of the ground before any match..
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Unirea Urziceni 1 Liverpool 3 (Agg 1-4): Javier Mascherano the catalyst as Rafa Benitez's men enjoy a banquet in Bucharest
Unbridled glee: Yossi Banyoun grabs goalscorer Javier Mascherano after his exquisite opener
Liverpool avoided a potential Europa League embarrassment in Romania as they came from behind to book their place in the last 16.
Shaky defending from set-pieces in the first half saw them fall behind to Bruno Fernandes' header in the 19th minute and for a while they looked rattled.
However, Javier Mascherano from long-range, and Ryan Babel from close, turned things around before the interval before Steven Gerrard's 33rd European goal wrapped things up after the break.
It was the first time since the 6-1 win over Hull in September that Liverpool had scored more than twice in a game, a run of 29 matches.
A year ago today they beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Bernabeu on the way to a 5-0 aggregate win before their eventual Champions League quarter-final defeat by Chelsea.
But their early struggles in the Steaua Stadium showed just how far the club's fortunes have plummeted in 12 months as Unirea created a number of chances, mainly from free-kicks and corners, which the visitors almost shambolically failed to deal with.
Backed by a vociferous crowd, the Romanian champions created their first opening in only the second minute.
Jamie Carragher's header from Iulian Apostol's free-kick only reached the edge of the penalty area and Sorin Frunza lashed a dipping volley onto the top of Jose Reina's net.
Less than 60 seconds later, Lucas Leiva picked out Gerrard with a through-ball but the Liverpool captain's fierce low drive was parried into the air by goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis.
Liverpool were retaining possession for long periods without really hurting their opponents but it was to cost them as, in the 19th minute, Unirea levelled the tie on aggregate.
Tidy performance: Steven Gerrard helped Liverpool ease into the last-16
Daniel Agger's last-ditch tackle on Marius Onofras gave the hosts a corner from the left and Razvan Paduretu's inviting delivery was perfect for centre-back Fernandes to power home a header virtually unchallenged.
George Galamaz's foul on Martin Skrtel resulted in the Unirea captain coming off worst and, despite trying to run off his injury, he was replaced by Ersin Mehmedovic in the 28th minute.
Two minutes later Liverpool seized control of the tie from the most unlikely of sources. Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog combined to allow Carragher to cross and, although Babel mis-controlled Gerrard's far post header with only the goalkeeper to the beat, the ball broke to Mascherano outside the penalty area to lash a shot past Arlauskis.
But they almost handed the initiative back to Unirea in the 36th minute when Paduretu's inswinging corner caused chaos in the six-yard area, hitting Agger but bouncing inches wide.
The Romanian midfielder's low 25-yard shot then had Reina diving to his right to tip around the post.
However, Liverpool gave themselves the cushion they so desperately needed five minutes before half-time.
Eat me: Rafa Benitez gave the best answer to jibes about his weight, guiding Liverpool to a convincing victory in Bucharest
Gerrard swung in a free-kick from the right and Babel took one touch before swivelling to fire home from close range.
Early in the second half Gerrard fired wide of Arlauskis' right-hand post and also forced him into a low save on the same side, as Liverpool started to play with slightly more freedom.
If there was any doubt about Unirea staging an unlikely comeback it was snuffed out by Gerrard in the 57th minute.
Babel broke down the left, moving the ball to Lucas and he picked out Benayoun, whose mazy dribble into the area was only half-stopped to allow the Liverpool captain to run onto the loose ball and blast a low shot under Arlauskis.
That strike was his 33rd in Europe, taking him past Alan Shearer, who scored 30 for Newcastle and two for Blackburn.
That prompted the introduction of youngster Martin Kelly for Carragher at right-back and, almost immediately, Sotirios Kyrgiakos after Unirea substitute Antonio Semedo caught Skrtel in a challenge.
With thoughts turning to Blackburn on Sunday in the Barclays Premier League, manager Rafael Benitez replaced Benayoun with Fabio Aurelio for the final 15 minutes.
Emiliano Insua's late intervention poked the ball off the toe of Paduretu just as he was about to pull the trigger in the six-yard area but otherwise there were no other scares.
But their first-half defensive lapses will not have gone unnoticed by Rovers boss Sam Allardyce ahead of his side's visit to Anfield.
Much greater challenges lie ahead for Benitez and his Liverpool team.
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Unirea Urziceni 1 Liverpool 3 (Agg 1-4): Reds back in old routine as Gerrard passes Shearer record
Steven Gerrard chalked up another landmark in a glittering career after becoming a European recordbreaker in the Steaua Stadium.
The Liverpool skipper rounded off a convincing Europa League win with a 57th-minute strike to become Britain's highest scorer in Europe, eclipsing Alan Shearer's tally of 32 goals.
Unbridled glee: Yossi Banyoun grabs goalscorer Javier Mascherano after his exquisite opener
Gerrard said: 'It's always nice to break records. I've been working really hard to get back among the goals, but the most pleasing thing is that we have progressed into the next round.'
HEADER HERE
Unirea Urziceni (4-5-1): Arlauskis 6; Maftei 6, Galamaz 6 (Mehmedovic 27, 7), Fernandes 7, Bordeanu 7; Onofras 7 (Semedo 62, 6), Paraschiv 6 (Vilana 56, 6), Paduretu 7, Apostol 7, Frunza 7; Bilasco 6.
Booked: Onofras, Fernandes, Arlauskis.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina 6; Carragher 7
(Kelly 61, 6), Skrtel 7 (Kyrgiakos 66, 6), Agger 7, Insua 6; Lucas 7, Mascherano 7; Benayoun 6 (Aurelio 77, 6), Gerrard 8, Babel 7; Ngog 6.
Booked: Babel, Mascherano.
Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.
Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden).However, Javier Mascherano showed his shot-shy team-mates as a perfect first-time connection on the bobbliest of surfaces beat Unirea keeper Giedrius Arlauskis comprehensively from 30 yards.
The contact and timing could hardly have been better as it took the sting out of a Unirea side who were good value for their 18th-minute lead.
Bruno Fernandes' header put an extra spring in Unirea's sprightly step, but they were stopped in their tracks when Mascherano struck in the 29th minute.
Ryan Babel fired Liverpool in front in the 40th minute, and it became a comfortable passage into the last 16 - where they will play French club Lille - when Gerrard pounced from close range to establish their first three-goal return since Hull were demolished 6-1 in September.
Tidy performance: Steven Gerrard helped Liverpool ease into the last-16
The one worry was a second-half injury to Martin Skrtel, carried off with a suspected broken foot after a block tackle by substitute Antonio Semedo that went unpunished.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said: 'It was a bad tackle, and it looks like a break. It's great for a club with our history that Stevie should have set a new record in Europe, and I was pleased with our character after we came back so well from their early goal.'
Liverpool's defence could have done with being as tight as the security outside. Turnstile staff frisked fans and confiscated bottles and even coins. Scores of Liverpool followers took their seats pounds lighter.
Shear class: Liverpool's Steven Gerrard celebrates breaking goal-scoring record with Yossi Benayoun
Unirea levelled the tie with a deserved breakthrough. Daniel Agger nicked the ball away from Marius Onofras with the goal at his mercy, but there was no reprieve from the resulting corner, Fernandes ring to power a header high into the net from Razvan Paduretu's kick.
Liverpool looked in danger of another embarrassment in a season that has already had its fair share, but Mascherano stunned a raucous home crowd with a brilliantly struck equaliser.
Unirea failed to deal decisively with Jamie Carragher's right-wing cross but could hardly have envisaged Mascherano's first-time thunderbolt from an unconvincing clearance which flew high into the net for his second goal of the season and third for the club.
Injury blow: Liverpool's Martin Skrtel is carried on a stretcher
Still the plucky Romanian champions refused to lie down as Emiliano Insua almost deflected another Paduretu corner into his own net, and the little midfield playmaker forced a full-length save from Pepe Reina seconds later.
But a Gerrard free-kick delivered with pace and bend gave Babel, making a rare start, the chance to register his fourth goal of the season from close range in the 40th minute. Gerrard then added another after going close twice.
Yossi Benayoun weaved into the area and Gerrard whipped the ball off his toes with a swing of the right boot.
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GOALS & HIGHLIGHTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm15t9pbDHs&feature=player_embedded
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well, some may applaud the result, but deep down, I do believe some pool fans must detest the attention given how they, a once top English club should gravel at the honour of Europa League win.
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Congrtaz