The Reds' only remaining hope of success this season lay with Europe's second-tier competition, but that hope evaporated on Thursday night thanks to Diego Forlan's extra-time strike at Anfield. Although Liverpool finished 2-1 victors on the night, Forlan's away goal proved decisive, condemning Benitez's team to end the campaign empty-handed. They do still have the fourth Champions League place to aim for, but even that is a forlorn hope and would require victory over title favourites Chelsea on Sunday. Benitez acknowledged there is plenty of work ahead if Liverpool are to regain their former status. He said: "Someone said we needed four or five players. I would more or less agree with that. That is what we have to do. "Liverpool is a massive club. There has been a change in the last two or three years. We have had to balance the books and manage in this way. "I do not know whether I will have any funds. We will find out in the summer. But the name is there and we have to do our best for it." Whether Benitez remains to undertake such a massive rebuilding job remains to be seen. Juventus are said to be keen on the Spaniard, who saw his hopes of leading Liverpool to a third European final under his charge collapse after they had found themselves in such a promising position. Benitez was cagey about his future, refusing to look any further ahead than the two games his side have left. "The future is Chelsea. And then Hull," he said. The exit was a microcosm of Liverpool's season. There was lots of effort and a bit of finesse in the first half, Alberto Aquilani providing the latter with a superb finish to put the hosts in front. Although there were no more goals in normal time, Yossi Benayoun struck at the start of the additional 30 minutes and seemed to have set up an all-English final with Fulham in Hamburg on May 12. Forlan wrecked those dreams, leaving Benitez to pick his players up once more, after he ran out of experience to make a difference from the bench. "Everything seems to have been against the players this season," he said. "It is clear that we had some problems. We had too many injuries and were lacking forward options. But the players worked so hard tonight and I am very proud of them. "Now we have to concentrate and do our best in the next two games." For Atletico it was a glory night, allowing them to revel in the joy of becoming the only Spanish side to reach a European final this season. "No one would have expected this," said coach Quique Sanchez Flores. "We are happy to represent our country and be Spain's only team in a European final. "It was an amazing night. You can't come to Anfield without knowing you are going to suffer some difficult moments but we were the stronger side in extra-time and deserved to go through." Now they must deny Fulham a magical end to one of the most staggering seasons in the London club's proud history, and Sanchez Flores is wary. "Never trust any team that goes all the way to the final," he said. "Any English team will be very competitive and Fulham are no exception."
