Young Players miss out on Final

By Kate7
March 1 2005

Rafa Benitez has given full credit to the Academy graduates for getting Liverpool to the Carling Cup final. Hardly given a chance under the former manager, Rafa told players at all levels of the club they would be given a chance to make the step up to the Prem squad.

It was up to them to take their chances. They certainly did this in the CC, knocking out Millwall, Boro and Spurs in the earlier rounds. They won’t play in the final but Rafa hasn’t forgotten their contribution. He said: "The problem is we can only have 16 players in the squad, in the Champions League you have 18, so with Gerrard, Morientes and Pellegrino back it means I have to leave a lot out. "It is a great pity we cannot include all of the young players who helped us get to the final. "I have to tell some of them they are not involved. It is difficult but it is my responsibility and we must be professional and understand. "I don't think we can get them medals but if we win I will say thank you to them all personally because they are the reason we have reached this final." Visit our message board, give us your prediction for the CC Final.