Even at 11, it was all about winning for Rafa

Rafa Benitez's could not be simpler. He just cannot stand losing. The Liverpool manager may not fly into a rage like some of his counterparts whenever decisions go against him, but few can claim to be as driven.

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An insight into Benitez emerged as he fielded questions about the Final shortly before setting off for a training expedition to the Spanish resort of Murcia.

The last bonding session abroad ended with Craig Bellamy wielding a nine iron at John Arne Riise for refusing to join in a late-night sing-song and it was typical of Benitez's affable nature, in media dealings at least, that he was able to reflect on the furore in Portugal and smile: "I don't know whether they've got any karaoke at this place, but we might manage a few holes of golf."

There will be nothing so carefree about the mood in Athens once he turns his attention to winning the re-match with Milan. Benitez's single-minded approach borders on the obsessive.

He said: "Winning is the thing that spurs me on. For as far back as I can remember, the thought that has always been in my mind has been winning. I think I first kicked a ball around when I was two, but my earliest memory of playing properly was at 11.

"I won the regional tournament, a youth cup for schools, the following year, and when I was 18 I won the Youth Cup in Spain. People sometimes say I wasn't a player, but I have played all my life.

"I got an injury which held me back, playing for the university national team in Mexico in 1979. But to be at that level shows I was a player.

"Not good enough for my team Real Madrid, perhaps, but I still played to a level. And through it all, I hated losing. I was a bad loser from the start, always wanting to win every game and it is the same now.

"I think it is something my parents gave me and if ever I did lose I would always analyse why and try to make sure it didn't happen again.

"I was like that even in my teens. I remember as a 16-year old thinking about the team I was playing for, analysing the game, always shouting to others: 'Go here, go there'. I didn't just play I studied the game, so it was natural that when I couldn't play any more I concentrated on coaching.

"One thing that didn't change was my will to win. That has always been part of me. It doesn't matter whether I am playing chess or cards or whatever.

"I want to win. If you want to do something you must try to be the best. That has always been my outlook."

Benitez's half-time team talk two years ago has been credited with inspiring one of football's greatest comebacks, as Liverpool wiped out a 3-0 deficit to win on penalties.

Yet, he admitted, language difficulties almost scuppered his recovery plan. "What did I learn after that? English!" he said.

"If you remember my English a couple of years ago, you would probably agree it has improved. In Istanbul, it was difficult.

"When you are losing 3-0, expressing all the things that need to be put right inside 10 or 15 minutes is not easy. The main problem was not me speaking as much as others saying something to me, particularly if it was in a Scouse accent.

"We were three goals down to one of the best sides in the world and trying to put all the relevant points across was really difficult.

"I was calm, though. I reminded the players how hard they had worked to reach the Final and that they could not leave things in such a bad state for our fans.

"I made tactical changes as well but I stressed what a difference an early goal could make. By the time they went back out everything was under control and from then on things couldn't have gone better.

"I will always have memories of those penalties, the atmosphere and our supporters. It was unforgettable."

Another Liverpool win and pub trade can expect to take a sharp turn for the better — especially the one that has Daniel Agger's name over the door.

The Denmark centre back said: "I own the Center Pub in Hvidovre with my uncle. It is my home town and any of my family not going to the game will be in the pub, along with my friends.

"I can't promise any free beer — unless I score. After the semi-final against Chelsea the celebrations were amazing and it would be the best summer ever if we win the European Cup and I get to put it on the end of the bar."