READ RAFA'S END OF SEASON REVIEW: PART TWO

In the second part of a revealing end of season review, Rafa Benitez reflects on what might have been and looks ahead to a summer of hard work.

There was a poor run after Christmas. What do you put that down to?

If you analyse the City game, we had three or four really good chances. Torres had two at the start of the second half. The team was really good. People talked about how well we played, so the result was a surprise. After that, Wigan at home we conceded late because of a mistake. We were not strong enough in defence during these games – we were using players too many games in a row. It was a bad run and in this time we lost the opportunity to be closer to the top.

Was the low point that 1-0 defeat at Upton Park?

Again, it's difficult to explain because in the last 20 minutes, with Lucas Leiva on the left side, we were on top. We had a corner, they cleared the ball and we couldn't stop the counter attack even with three or four players around. They got the penalty and it was so disappointing. Again, we deserved to win but we lost.

Is it in these bad times that you learn most about your players?

Yes. You can always learn when you win, but you always learn more when you lose. In a difficult year you can see the character of the players. You can also see the character of all the staff and people around. You can see if they have the winning mentality that we want.

After the FA Cup exit came Inter Milan. You've had some memorable European nights, particularly at Anfield. How does that one compare?

Maybe people don't realise how difficult it was for us to beat Inter Milan. They have won the league three years in a row. They have a lot of good players but we were better than them in both games. In the home game we attacked and attacked, yet they only had one chance. We controlled everything.

The fact you beat the Italian champions, is that evidence that the Premier League is certainly better than Serie A, and indeed all the other leagues in the world?

You have the top two teams in Europe in England. Arsenal are also a fantastic team and we are there too. I watch Spanish football and I think the Premier League is better than that and the Italian league.

You then went on a great run and were arguably the most consistent you'd been all season…

We started well and when we had Agger we were playing well. But, after all the draws, it was important to regain the confidence. We were playing really well, winning games in a row and producing good football. You could see the understanding between Gerrard and Torres, but other players were also scoring goals. As I've said, we have the spine for next season and now we need to add players in certain positions.

A lot of teams are spending a lot of money these days. Is the Premier League harder to win now than when you first arrived in England?

I think so. It's more difficult because after two years of Chelsea winning the league and spending big money, United needed to do the same. They started spending big money, and Arsenal were also spending big money on young players. We are trying to do the same but because they (Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal) are continuing to spend big money, it makes it more difficult to catch up. You also see Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham and Everton spending money and having strong teams. It's not easy to be in the top four and be contenders but because we have a young squad we can try again.

KUYT: CHANGE HAS DONE ME GOOD

Dirk Kuyt hopes his headed strike in Holland's 3-0 victory over Ukraine on Saturday will be enough to earn him a place at Euro 2008.

The former Feyenoord man was dropped from the national side earlier this year but is now back in the reckoning ahead of the summer's championships in Austria and Switzerland.

Now Kuyt hopes his goalscoring exploits will be enough to keep his place when Marco van Basten cuts his 26-man squad to 23.

The striker said: "I am glad that I am part of the Holland team again.

"I think we made a good impression as a team. Only at the end of the match we got tired. That is logical looking at the efforts of the last weeks."

Kuyt believes his recent resurgence is down to a change of position which saw him shifted from centre forward to a new right-sided role by Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

"It's gone well for me," the 27-year-old said. "Sometimes things just fall into place. I had the feeling when it started that it was temporary, but it went so well we carried on.

"The way we play now for the Netherlands is very similar to the Liverpool system, and I think I have shown I can play there.

"You have players who can turn a match with one touch and players who perform in service to the team. I have no problem playing for the team.

"I feel really strong. That is the advantage of playing in the Premier League. It is the physically toughest league in the world and you only get better and stronger from playing there."

REID: GERRARD SHOULD BE CAPTAIN

Peter Reid has called upon Fabio Capello to hand Steven Gerrard the England captaincy on a full-time basis.

The former Everton midfielder believes the Reds skipper has the same type of talismanic quality as his old Three Lions teammate Bryan Robson and admits that if he was in the England dugout, there is no doubt who he would hand the armband to.

Reid said: "There's different types of captains but I think the inspirational ones in the middle of the park, like Robson, like Gerrard, galvanize the team when they need galvanizing.

"I think Steve Gerrard, when he has responsibility, is a better player. I'd give it [the England captaincy] to him, I think he's one of those that likes to lead from example. He's all action, he can get a goal, he can play from attack. If it was up to me it would Gerrard."

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