Benitez aims to become Reds great

Benitez has quickly embedded himself in the hearts of Reds fans

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has targeted becoming the most successful manager in the club's history.

Benitez hopes the first of his trophies will come with a win over AC Milan in the Champions League final on 25 May.

"I was at Extremadura, Tenerife and Valencia and we had the best statistics in the history of each club," he said.

"I have done it at three clubs. Now I will try and do the same here. It will be very, very difficult I know because the history of this club is so big."

Benitez, 44, has set himself a major task considering the exploits of the club's former managers in Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan, who made Liverpool into one of the most successful teams ever both domestically and in Europe.

It's not important what people say about us - We will just work really hard at our preparation and game plan Rafael Benitez

"I have 20 years of my life as a manager yet and I have four more years left on my contract here and that is a lot of time," added Benitez.

"I am very confident and I want to win things. I know there are good teams in Europe and here, but if you don't believe in yourself, it will be impossible."

The Reds boss has cited the win over AC Milan's fellow Italian club Juventus as helping instil a belief among his players that they could win the club's fifth European Cup.

And he says comments from the Milan camp describing Liverpool as fortunate to be in the final are not proving an extra spur to win at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul.

He said: "It's not important what people say about us. We will just work really hard at our preparation and game plan and not listen to anyone from outside.

Everyone thinks Milan will just have to turn up to beat us Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard

"What is said doesn't motivate me, I don't need any more motivation. I already have a lot of it."

Reds captain Steven Gerrard echoed the sentiments of Benitez and is adamant Milan will underestimate Liverpool at their peril.

"We have always been the underdogs and we will be the underdogs on the 25th in Istanbul, everyone thinks Milan will just have to turn up to beat us," said the 24-year-old.

"But they will be in for a really big fight, we are up for it and we are confident that we will be able to surprise everyone again.

"The Champions League has brought out the best from this side, there is great belief and confidence amongst us all.

"We have gone all the way to the final and beaten some fantastic teams and we now are really confident.

"There's a tough task ahead but we are not going to Istanbul just to enjoy the experience, we are going there to win it."