Doubts have been raised over whether a sustained challenge can come from Anfield considering the team have already lost three times - one more than the whole of the previous campaign - to lie six points behind leaders Chelsea after eight matches.
Benitez believes running champions and arch-rivals Manchester United close last term, finishing four points behind the Old Trafford club, has brought positives and negatives and he maintains the mounting criticism is unjustified.
"The most difficult thing this season is to manage expectation," the manager said. "Last season we finished with 86 points and everyone was talking about this being the year.
"It's a long race and if we make mistakes and give up too early it will be impossible. So the main thing for everyone here is to try to be calm and keep working hard."
Benitez is hopeful the return of centre-back Daniel Agger, who has not played a first-team game since the end of May after a summer back operation, and the inclusion of £20m former Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who is yet to make his debut after ankle surgery, will provide a boost to the squad.
"We have some players coming back from injury, so we have time," added the Spaniard. "We need to keep the mentality, keep scoring goals and we will see."
0 comments:
Post a Comment