Rafa Benitez has been successful in his time as Liverpool manager, winning almost every cup competition going, including the Champions League and FA Cup. However, the one prize the fans and players want the most is the Premiership, something Rafa has failed to compete for in his time with the North West club.
Jose Mourinho of course has an opinion on this, and today voiced this. Mourinho claims that now Liverpool have no excuse not to mount a serious title challenge after their spending spree in the market this summer, on top of the excess of £80 million Benitez had already spent on players.
“The pressure is a bit higher [on Liverpool] because, at this moment, they cannot point at other people,” said Mourinho.
“In other years, they could say: ‘Oh, these guys, they’ve spent a lot of money so they have to win’. This season, they have to talk differently. They have high responsibilities and high expectations.
“In the last three years, it’s been Chelsea and Manchester United in the league, and it’s been a long time since Liverpool won the Premiership. So they really want it.
“I heard something earlier this summer – [Steven] Gerrard, [Jamie] Carragher and [John Arne] Riise saying it has to be this season. That’s normal, and positive. I cannot complain about that. Everybody wants to achieve it.
“We want it too, no problem. But it’s been four years with Benitez and they want the Premiership. They don’t hide it – Benitez, the players, they all speak about winning the title.
“I think winning nothing last season was frustrating for them, but they’ve got a good squad and good players, so they’ll be better.”