Benitez: We are all to blame
Rafael Benitez accepted his own share of the blame for Liverpool’s shambolic arrival in the group stages of the Champions League after last night’s embarrassing 1-0 home defeat by Graz AK in the final qualifying round.
Graz were considered to be an easy touch after losing 2-0 to Liverpool in the first leg on their own ground a fortnight ago. But the Austrian champions grew in confidence at Anfield, faced with a depressing Liverpool display, and almost staged a remarkable comeback.
In the end, Liverpool hung on to a 2-1 aggregate lead, but new boss Benitez was quick to spread the responsibility right through the squad and himself.
He said: “I am part of the team, everyone was to blame. We all still have a lot to learn but this is a problem for us all, not just one man, not just the team but for me also.
“We did not play well in defence or attack. The reasons were that we became nervous and conceded possession too easily.
“But we have a good squad and we all have to work harder, learn from this and understand what was bad about it.”
