Milan have won the trophy four times and been in six finals since Liverpool last lifted the European crown 21 years ago, but Benitez reckons the Anfield men can confound the critics.

Milan have already branded Liverpool boring and defensive, but Benitez says :``They are favourites, they have a lot of great players and with plenty of experience of finals.

"They think they can win because of this experience, but maybe they do not know that we are hungry. We want to win."

Benitez is determined to keep his squad single minded and focused on the match in the Ataturk Stadium rather than the hype surrounding the final which will be watched in 233 countries worldwide and by an estimated record TV audience of 150million.

He says: "At the start of the season I felt we played some good games, particularly in Europe, but maybe not enough.

"Then when we beat Olympiacos I told the players they could win the trophy, and after we won in Leverkusen I was even more convinced.

"And then when we beat Juventus I felt all the players believed we could win the trophy. Now I believe we really can win the Champions League."

He added: "I do not have problems when people say others are favourites. Certainly not afterwards when we have won. I concentrate on what to do in the build-up and to be prepared, not to worry what people say on the outside. We work hard to be focused and knowing what to do for each moment of the match.

"I have not decided on my team. We have several more training sessions and I am watching them and I am pleased and impressed by the effort being put in.

"We are working very hard, sprinting, shooting and working. They are making it very hard for me and I will probably not decide until late on Tuesday what team I will select."

Benitez is acutely aware of the might and massive experience that Milan will bring to the final.

But he says: "To have experience is always important, even more so in these type of games. But for us we have nothing to lose and a lot of things that can help us win.

"Yes, look at Milan, look at Maldini with seven finals. OK, it is the first time for us and we want to play seven more finals as well. This is our first one, and we want to win it very badly.

"This is the mentality we need for the final, we cannot think of what happens if we lose. We are there, it may be a surprise for a lot of people but we intend to only do our job right and not to think about anything else."

Benitez is already planning for life after the final, and will have Liverpool's stars back into pre-season training a week earlier than normal on July 27.

And they have now confirmed a trip to Japan after spending a fortnight at a Swiss training camp.

It is the club's first visit to Japan since their two World Club Championship fixtures in Tokyo in 1983 and 1984.

Rafa Benitez's side will face Shimizu S-Pulse on July 27 in the Nihondaira Stadium, Hamamatzu.

One the strongest teams in the J-League, Shimizu used to be managed by Ossie Ardiles.

They will then face Kashima Antlers at the Kashima Stadium on July 30, before returning to England a day later.