Hyppia hoping for Benitez effect
Sami Hyypia is hoping Rafael Benitez can do for Liverpool what he did at Valencia as a new era today began at Anfield.
Benitez last month quit the Primera Liga champions and UEFA Cup holders Valencia to take charge of the Reds following Gerard Houllier’s departure earlier this summer after six years at the helm.
Following a short holiday, Benitez returned to England during the weekend and was this morning at Melwood to meet the majority of the Liverpool squad for the first time as they reported back for pre-season training.
With the exception of Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Milan Baros, all given extended leave after their Euro 2004 exploits, the rest of the players were on hand to welcome the first Spanish manager in the Premier League to the club.
Former captain Hyypia is looking forward to working with Benitez as he told PA Sport: “There have been some changes at the club, and they had to happen because of results.
“Seeing Gerard Houllier go did hurt because he was the manager who signed me and who gave me a lot of responsibility.
“But I’m now eager to start the new season. We’ve a strong team and hopefully we will be challenging. We want to improve.
“We’ve all seen what he [Benitez] did for Valencia and we’re hoping he can do something similar here at Liverpool and do a great job.
“As Liverpool have never won the Premiership, that will be the target.”
With Liverpool recently confirming Gerrard is to stay, despite all the speculation that has surrounded the inspirational midfielder, and with Owen likely to remain, Benitez would appear to have the nucleus of a team around which to work.
“If we are to have any chance of success it was vital for us we kept hold of Stevie and hopefully Michael will stay too,” added the Finland international centre-back.
“Stevie has established himself as one of the best midfielders in England and of course everybody knows Michael and that he can score a lot of goals.
“When he gets his form back, I bet he will do that in the future as well.”
Benitez is hoping to emulate his feat of winning the league title in his first season at Valencia with Liverpool, but he has warned the players what he expects from them if such an ambition is to be realised.
“When I arrived at Valencia people said it was difficult to win the league in the first season,” Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.
“I won’t say it will be the same here, but I will fight hard. We need time, but perhaps we have a surprise for the supporters.
“The message to the fans is the same as to the players. We have to work hard and have the good mentality that there has always been at Liverpool.
“Last year they worked hard, but we have to improve because we want to be at the top.”
