Losses against Wigan and then Lille in the Europa League heightened the feeling of impending catastrophe at Anfield. And with Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini's long-term future in serious doubt after his side's exit from the Champions League, speculation has already started linking Benitez with the Bernabeu post. But the Spaniard is determined to prove his critics wrong by delivering his guarantee of fourth place in the Barclays Premier League and turning around a 1-0 deficit from their Europa League last-16, first leg. It could be a pivotal week for the club as they face bottom side Portsmouth on Monday, host Lille in midweek and then travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford the following Sunday. "I don't feel under pressure. I am disappointed for the season but we can still fight and still improve," Benitez said. "Against Portsmouth we have to prove this determination and then afterwards against Lille. "We know the season is not good enough. Every game will be important and the next one against Portsmouth is the most important as we try to get close to the top four. "It is clear we cannot lose too many points so we have to start winning, beginning with this game. "We know every game has to be like this but we have to have a good mentality to approach games in this way. "Then we can go forward and start thinking about the Europa League when we have a 'cup final' against Lille. Every game in a knockout competition is like a final. That is the way." Criticism began to mount after an inept first half against Wigan which was possibly the worst 45 minutes of Benitez's five-and-a-half-year reign. Defeat in northern France was not as bad as some made out but it did not do much for the squad's battered confidence. Benitez, however, accentuated the positives by insisting he saw signs which suggested his side could yet still pull their season out of the fire. "We were improving in the last few games and we were stronger and defensively more solid and difficult to beat," the said. "And then Wigan was a surprise for us but the reaction has been positive and hopefully we can carry on in this way. "I think we saw we had some character (against Lille). To play against these type of teams who are quick, you could see we were strong. "It was a good example of the way we want to play, not just the game, but the mentality, the attitude of the players. "At Anfield, with the fans behind the players we will see a better reaction and the fans will see that. "I am sure if we can play with this intensity we can beat anyone." Midfielder Javier Mascherano insisted the players had put the Wigan defeat behind them and were fully focused on the task ahead. "I think we had a very bad game, we didn't work in that game as hard as we can so maybe we deserved to lose," admitted the Argentina captain. "The team was much better against Lille. Maybe we didn't play fantastic but we worked very hard. "Now it has gone. We have forgotten about that and we have to look forward and not keep thinking about that (Wigan) game. "Now we are thinking about the next game and we are thinking about playing the best game we can."
