Benitez praise for Liverpool's Champions League 'belief'
Rafael Benitez says Liverpool are better suited to Champions League
Wednesday, 09, Apr 2008 09:32
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said he is "delighted" to have secured a third Champions League semi-final in four years after beating Arsenal.
And the Spaniard reserved special praise for his players' "belief" after they conceded an equaliser to make it 2-2 with just seven minutes to go before going on to win the match 4-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate.
Theo Walcott's amazing run from box to box set up Emmanuel Adebayor for the Gunners' second goal on the night, which would have put the visitors through on away goals.
But a Steven Gerrard penalty and a late breakaway goal from Ryan Babel sealed the win and a place in the last four.
"I was delighted with the belief of my players, particularly in the second half," he said.
"We had been so poor before the break, but so much better in the second period.
"It was a tremendous game for our fans, there were six goals and we played so well."
He added: "When we went to 2-2 so near the end, my players showed tremendous character and desire to get up off the ground to win the tie."
The Reds now face Chelsea for the third time in a Champions League semi-final in the last four years.
And if Benitez's men can make it a hat-trick of victories over the Blues they will qualify for a third European final since 2005.