Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez claims he does not feel under increased pressure.
Reds boss believes performances have been better than results
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez claims he feels 'nothing new' despite suggestions that he should be under increased pressure following his side's UEFA Champions League exit.
The lacking-in-confidence Reds crashed out of Europe's most prestigious club competition on Tuesday and know they are now set to compete in the Europa League in the spring.
A win over Debrecen was only Liverpool's second in 11 matches and it was not enough to survive in the Champions League as Fiorentina defeated Lyon to progress from Group E.
The elimination at the group stages for the first time in Benitez's reign will come as another hammer blow to the confidence of his players, with self-belief already having been pummelled to a pulp amidst Premier League struggles.
But the Reds boss insists he is not buckling under the weight of criticism ahead of Sunday's trip to Merseyside derby rivals Everton.
He said: "I do not feel under any greater pressure, Liverpool are under pressure in every single game, anyway, whatever the competition. This is nothing new for me.
Winning mentality
"My aim is just to help the players, working and preparing the team.
"The players know we are better than our results suggest, they can see that we could have won in every game even if not playing well.
"We have played better than many of our opponents in this run, we have had plenty of opportunities to score. They know the situation.
"We have ideas, we have solutions to problems, and plans for matches. The players know we have been a lot better than people are saying."
He continued: "We need a winning mentality to return, but we have not planned any differently for matches, just the same organisation.
"Things are still positive, we have players coming back from injuries. We have been positive in recent league games against Birmingham and Manchester City, things have been improving."
