Journalist: First of all Rafa, everybody wants to know your response to the news the two American owners have put the club up for sale and you have a new chairman...
I think it seems the club is moving forward and that is positive. We also have a new chairman, so if we talk about the future of the club, if we talk about investors and all these things, he is in charge now. I can concentrate on the games we have to play now.
Journalist: The chairman has already given an interview in which he was asked about the future of Rafael Benitez and made the point that he wants you to stay. You're under contract and as far as he is concerned, that is the way he wants it to stay. What is the future for you, given everything that has happened?
For me it is very clear and very simple - West Ham and afterwards Atletico Madrid. My responsibility now is to do my best for the team and on the pitch is where I can make a difference.
Journalist: Do you think Liverpool are an attractive proposition for potential buyers?
Yes, 100 per cent. It is a massive club with massive fans and I think the future is really good.
Journalist: So let's move onto West Ham. Can you clarify whether Fernando Torres will be able to play in that game?
Talking with him earlier, he told me he was thinking about West Ham and the rest of the games. But he needs to see the specialist to get another opinion after the first meeting because the specialist did the operation, so he knows his knee really well. We have to wait - he is working in the gym and we will see. To play against West Ham, at this moment, will be difficult but he is working and he is fine. It is just to be sure about the injury.
Journalist: The volcanic ash across the country hasn't helped, I believe, because he really should have flown back to Spain already...
Yes, that is the problem we have had - we had to delay the meeting with the doctor.
Journalist: Success in the Europa League is perhaps more of a possibility than finishing fourth. Will you have one eye on Thursday's game heading into Monday's match?
We have to try in both. You never know what can happen in football and this weekend will be very important. We play on Monday and we will know more (about the table). For us, we have to win our games and wait. It will be difficult (to finish fourth) but we still have some chances. After, we have the game against Atletico Madrid, but we have to approach games trying to win, so we will start with the first one and then we will look at the next one.
Journalist: The squad is pretty similar to last year. Do you feel you may have overachieved in the league last season?
We have been talking about this with the players. It was a really, really good season but I always say the same - the Premier League is the Premier League and the difference in money is so big that if you want to stay at this level for a while, you have to do almost everything perfectly. That is not easy when you push and push because sometimes you cannot keep the players working so hard or at the level they were last year.
Journalist: Why do you think you haven't been able to maintain the levels you were at last year?
Too many things. I think at the beginning of the season, expectations were too high - that is normal, especially after such a good season. During pre-season we had players coming back late and then we had injuries - we've had seven, nine or 11 players out at the same time in different months, players who would normally be starters. We can talk about mistakes, but when you have so many players injured, especially key players, it is not easy to sustain this level of performance every week.
Journalist: I know we have been talking about the possibility of a top four finish for a long time now. It looks like a long shot, but Manchester City and Tottenham have got difficult matches, so while there is still a chance, you have to go for it...
We still have to play four games. They have very difficult games, and we have some too, but we have to do our job and try to win our games. It was a pity against Fulham because I think we deserved to win, and it was the same against Birmingham, especially in the last 20 minutes when we had enough chances to win. But sometimes you can (score) and sometimes you cannot. You saw three great saves from the 'keeper on Wednesday for Tottenham against Arsenal and it can make a difference. We have to prepare for the game against West Ham, try to get three points and wait. At least we will know what has happened over the weekend and hopefully there will have been some good results for us and we can be a little bit closer.
Journalist: Going back to the new chairman. Do you have a list of requirements you want to give to him?
In all honesty, the main thing for me now is the game with West Ham. We've had some problems with flights and injuries, so I think we have to check if everyone is available and prepare the team. We have one or two problems and we have to fix these problems.
Journalist: Do you expect to have an input into any discussions?
I am sure we will have a very good conversation about the present and the future, but at this moment I am more worried and concerned about Torres and the other things.
Journalist: Will Torres definitely go back to Spain when the flight is available?
If it is available, yes he has to go because it is the specialist who did the operation.
Journalist: Do you think the way you finish the season will have any impact on how attractive the club is to investors?
Maybe for some people, but everybody knows Liverpool is a top side. One good season or bad season is not because you can win one or two more games at the end of it. Clearly if we can win the Europa League, it will be good for talking about silverware, but in terms of the value of the club, it is a massive club so you don't need to think about one or two games.
Journalist: How are things progressing with Javier Mascherano's contract negotiations?
I think it is moving forward.
Journalist: Finally Rafa, what's the team news?
We have the same problems we had - Aurelio, Skrtel and Kelly - and now also Fernando, so we have to wait a little bit. Insua is not fit, he has a tear in his quadriceps.
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