• Premier League

Benitez to go British

ESPN Soccernet staff
May 19, 2010
Rafael Benitez faces a long summer of rebuilding a squad to challenge at the top once again © Getty Images
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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez claims that the club will continue to search for the best of British talent as he looks to revive the flagging fortunes of the Anfield side.

Benitez is keen to see more young British players at Anfield, having brought in 18-year-old Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton Athletic, and thinks that the addition of the likes of Glen Johnson follows the club's long-term plans.

"It is something that we have always tried to do," Benitez told his club's official website. "We tried to sign Gareth Barry, we did the same with Glen Johnson. That was always the idea. We have tried to bring in British players with the right mentality and the passion for the club.

"We want them to know what it means to play for Liverpool Football Club. Shelvey is an addition like that. We are trying to do what is best for the club. We have a long-term plan in place and we try to follow that."

Liverpool finished seventh in the Premier League this season - their lowest finish in 11 years - although Benitez still believes that there is a good foundation to the squad.

"This team has good players and we have a good team," he added. "We just had too many problems, too many injuries. We also had some difficulty dealing with expectation that everyone was thinking about us at the beginning of the season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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