Liverpool’s Champions League 2018 winning manager Real Madrid vs Liverpool Rafa Benitez believes the team Jurgen Klopp is taking to Kiev on Saturday to face Real Madrid in the competition’s final is better than the one he led to victory in 2005.
Benitez masterminded a dramatic success in Istanbul, bringing his side back from the dead at half-time against favourites AC Milan when they trailed by three goals, before winning the trophy in dramatic fashion on penalties.
Liverpool then, as now, were unfancied to see off Chelsea and Juventus on their way to the final, so the underdog theme is not new to the Spaniard, who was in his first season at Anfield when he led the club to the European Cup final.
But he reckons Klopp has a side that has been more assuredly built and is better prepared for victory when they face Real on Saturday evening.“I think this one is better,” said Benitez. “They talk about the miracle of Istanbul but this team is better. So, if we talk about the money spent my budget was £20m, £20 millions. The value of this team is so much higher and they have had so many more years when they have been spending a lot of money.
“The difference between the Premier League and the other leagues is the intensity of the games. Liverpool and their offensive players, their midfielders, their defence have the intensity to hurt you if they do it well.
“No I don’t think so (that Liverpool rely on Mo Salah as much as his side did with Steven Gerrard). They have a good balance. Everyone was talking about their defence but they spent some money on defenders.
