Rafa vows Reds will be positive April 29 2008
Rafael Benitez is in confident mood as Liverpool prepare to confront their Chelsea demons in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg.
The Spaniard knows his team have never scored at Stamford Bridge in eight matches during his four years as manager, and for for the Reds to reach Moscow on May 21 that must change as their rivals hold a crucial away goal from the first leg, which finished 1-1.
But ahead of the showdown in West London Benitez insisted: "We will score. We will win and we will get to the final."
Defeat will end the Merseysiders' season early. Fourth spot in the Premier League is secured and all that will be left if they lose will be several more months of boardroom upheaval without the distractions of a third trip to the European Cup final in four seasons.
But the Liverpool boss said: "The team is ready and focused, they are concentrating on the job and confident.
"I am not really worried about how people judge our season, I am only concerned about how we progress, and how we will feel after the game when we are happy with ourselves.
"We have guaranteed fourth position now, that has been our aim. Now we intend to go to the Champions League final.
"Our aim is always to win trophies, that's simple, and we intend to do so this season."
This is their ninth semi-final in the competition and the Anfield outfit are aiming to reach their eighth final.
But they are also looking to record their first away victory at this stage of European competition in a tie when they failed to win the first leg at home.
Benitez must also concern himself with the problem confronting the Scouse heartbeat of his side, with Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard one booking away from missing the final - a scenario which also faces Blues skipper John Terry.
This fear promoted Benitez to again highlight the antics of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and what the Liverpool manager considered a poor performance from Austrian referee Konrad Plautz in the first leg.
The worrry at Anfield is Carragher, particularly, in his confrontation with the Ivorian ace could suffer an unfortunate or unjust booking.
As a result Turin-born referee Roberto Rosetti is in the firing line, with Benitez's turning the screw on the official.
"The referee in the first leg was not good in virtually every decision but hopefully it will be different now.
"I was really disappointed about everything after the first leg but when I watched the match again on video I was very pleased with the performance of my team.
"I was happy with the work-rate. We played well and were the better team.
"Clearly Chelsea were lucky. Petr Cech saved them on several occasions. We had great opportunities, they were lucky.
"It will not be a fantastic achievement just to score there. But to win, yes, that will rank highly in my career and the players."
Benitez added: "I have said things about Drogba, about how easy it is for him to fall down. Everybody can see it every game, it is very clear.
"I hope the Italian referee, who has experience in Europe, will know what is going on and will be strong."
But the former Valencia boss is certain he does not want Carragher or his skipper to change their style.
"I know that Carragher and Gerrard could miss the final if they are booked, but the first thing for us is to progress," he said.
"If you do not tackle because you fear you will miss the final, that is wrong. They know they need to play a normal game.
"It is not easy for them but they have experience and they know we have to get to the final.
"They have control and they know their tackles must be good - but they also know we need to be in the final."