Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Rafael Benítez still undermined by contract problems
Tony Evans, Football Editor, Madrid

Have there been many better homecomings? Rafael Benítez stood under the steep stands of the Bernabéu Stadium last night while the Madridistas gasped in shock after Yossi Benayoun gave Liverpool the lead in the first leg of the Champions League first knockout round. Yet, far from smugness, Benítez must have felt the weight of the world upon him. This should have been a triumphant night for the Madrid-born manager but, instead, it was another unpleasant day in the life of Liverpool Football Club.

From early morning, rumours circulated that the Spaniard was about to be dismissed, or resign, depending on the source. Benítez is indeed at the end of his tether — the tortuous politics of Anfield would depress the most upbeat of managers — but this remains a man committed to his task. Back at the Bernabéu, where he began his career as a coach with Real Madrid’s youth teams in 1986, it should have been a night to savour.

Instead, bookmakers suspended betting on whether the Spaniard would wake up this morning in charge of Liverpool and wild rumours suggested that Kenny Dalglish would take over and fill the void left by Benítez, if only on a temporary basis.

The reality is different. Benítez, a man who has a European Cup on his CV, is angry. He feels that the leadership at Anfield — and that means Rick Parry, the chief executive, rather than the actual owners, has let him down badly. There is massive dissension between the Americans — Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr are barely on speaking terms — but the Spaniard’s difficulties have been at a local level. Until there is a resolution in the conflict between manager and chief executive, Benítez will struggle to create a team that he believes in.

The Hicks camp responded with annoyance yesterday to suggestions that Benítez would leave the club, but Gillett would gladly see the back of the man who orchestrated the miracle of Istanbul in 2005. Benítez agreed to sign a new contract at Anfield before Christmas but has not put his signature on a long-term agreement. Each time the Liverpool owners make a verbal commitment to the manager, the written document comes back without the assurances that the manager had been looking for.

Gillett would be rid of Benítez in a moment — he has even questioned his emotional stability. But, once again, the Liverpool manager has proved that he is a serious player on the big stage. There will be a vacancy at the Bernabéu in the summer. Even if Benítez is not appreciated at Anfield, the bigwigs in Madrid know a world-class manager when they see one.

After suspending the market on the next Barclays Premier League manager to leave their club in the wake of a raft of bets on Rafael Benítez yesterday, William Hill quote the Spaniard at 8-11 to be gone by the start of next season and evens that he will still be at Anfield.

rossie1977 wrote: »

don't remind me, going further back remember not even registering a shot on target against mighty brondby in the uefa or getting whacked 3-0 by even mightier strasbourg the next year

elshambo wrote: »

Ronnie Whelen has earned the right to say what he likes about Liverpool's current style of play(good or bad), as have a lot of the other ex-Players who are mouthing off at the minute and anyone who says he/they have'nt, really dont have an opnion worth hearing!

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

This is ****ing hilarious...

Rijkard is better than Rafa despite having an identical record in top competitions and managing a club with a virtually unlimited budget and talent.

O'Neill is better than Rafa despite having won nothing that can be compared to Rafa's record but because he has achieved relatively decent success at small clubs, could easily do a better job than Rafa...


It is dumbfounding..

event wrote: »

this is exactly the reason why you cannot have a discussion about anything in here

find a quote where i said rijkaard is better than rafa?

i didnt, because i dont think so. however, the question was that if rafa leaves, who could take over from him

i mentioned some coaches who i believe would be able to do so.

but as usual, anything that can be in anyway interpretted (sp) as negative towards rafa is jumped on.

i assumed anyone with a bit of cop on could see what i was saying, but i seem to be mistaken

you're right, it IS ****ing hilarious

eZe^ wrote: »

What's hilarious is when your response to a ridiculous statement is something just as fcuking ridiculous. Unlimited budget and talent? When Rijkaard came in Barcelona had finished the season 4th. That Barcelona team was absolutely rubbish, riddled with aging and terrible quality players in many positions. Himself and Joan Laporta took over from Gaspart's absolutely shambolic campaign. He then went on to bring the team to 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd.

Rijkaard took them from being very much a sleeping giant into being a European heavyweight again, winning the the 2nd CL in the clubs history. If it wasn't for Rijkaard and Laporta changing the fortunes of Barcelona (largely thanks to the acquisition of Ronaldinho) they would probably be struggling every season to qualify for the CL. Rijkaard and Laporta RAISED those 'unlimited funds' by changing the fortunes of the club and making it a marketable giant. It's not like Rijkaard was given 500 million in one season and was allowed to spend on whoever he wanted.

Also, if you're going to say something about the talent Barcelona got from the youth set up and bought over the past 5 years, don't ****ing forget to mention the amazing Valencia team that Benitez inherited from Hector Cuper. A manager who brought them to two consecutive CL finals. He inherited Santiago Cañizares, Roberto Ayala, Rubén Baraja, David Albelda and Pablo Aimar and they provided the backbone of Benitez's Valencia team, hardly a bunch of duffers.

The way you talk you'd swear Valencia CF were fcuking Tenerife before Benitez arrived and Barcelona were winning league after league before Rijkaard joined. When the reality is both managers did an excellent job in their respective positions and were both funded quite well. What is it with the belittling that's going on in this forum these days. F*cking sick of it tbh.

BENITEZ BAFFLED BY QUIT RUMOURS

Rafael Benitez moved to end speculation over his future as manager of Liverpool.

The Reds boss was speaking in the aftermath of his side's impressive 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu.

The matchday build up was however overshadowed by rumours that Benitez was set about to walk away from the club due to the ongoing stalemate over a new contract between the Spaniard and Liverpool's American owners.

"My lawyers and advisors have been talking to the club's owners today about the contract and I believe that problems we have can be overcome," said Benitez.

"I was very surprised today to hear rumours from Liverpool that I was going to resign.

"I can assure you that I have not been considering such a move, and it was a shock to hear such suggestions."

Benitez has been locked in talks over a new four-year deal for several weeks, and it is believed owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have balked at some of the Spaniard's demand.

But Benitez remains certain an agreement will eventually be reached.
"I expect talks to continue between my lawyers, my advisors, myself and the owners," he continued.

"I am really pleased with my position at the club, I have not been thinking about resigning.

"My aim is to win every game possible for this club, and my advisors will continue to talk. We will see what happens then.

"We are still talking, so we will see what happens in the future. Sometimes when something gets said (by fans) and it gets repeated and repeated it seems that people think it is true. But it wasn't true, I can assure you of that.

"I was not thinking about resigning, obviously I cannot control other things, that I could be fired, but I was just concentrating on the game.

"The fans need to know that I was not thinking of resigning. The club has made it clear this rumour was not true. That is important for everyone.

"Stability is the key if you want to be successful "And the players were able to do their talking on the pitch, not beforehand."

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also dismissed the speculation about the Spaniard.

Carragher told Sky Sports: "I got a text message about it but Liverpool have created a lot of rumours over the years and that's another one. It was a rumour and there's nothing in it."

Earlier on Wednesday, Liverpool sources felt moved to respond to claims that bookmakers have suspended betting on Benitez's future.
A source close to the club said: "Rafa is not going to be sacked, such suggestions are ridiculous.

"We are aware of the rumours and speculation that has been buzzing around in Madrid but it is just not true."

Support for this view, enflamed by on-going contract negotiations, has come from one of Benitez's closest confidants.

Leading Spanish journalist Guillem Balague is a personal friend of Benitez and has dismissed claims the Liverpool boss is about to be axed.

On his website, Balague wrote: "There are reports that betting has been suspended on this particular market and the rumour that Benitez will be gone has spread like wildfire around the Liverpool supporters out here in Madrid and on the internet.

"If I am honest, I am not entirely comfortable indulging in these stories at the moment as there is so much misinformation being spread around that it is impossible to respond accurately to every single report or rumour.

"However, because of the number of people who are getting in touch with us, I feel I should respond.

"I can say with absolute certainty, categorically, that Rafa Benitez will not be sacked as manager of Liverpool this evening and that these rumours are not true.

"At the moment, the situation is delicate, and there have been developments with regard to the ongoing contractual negotiations at Anfield, and this is something that we will discuss later."

RAFA RUMOURS `RIDICULOUS` - LIVERPOOL

Liverpool are not about to sack manager Rafael Benitez on the brink of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

The club have been concerned by speculation that their Spanish manager is about to leave, and sources at Anfield insist that the 48 year-old's position is safe.

Liverpool sources have felt moved to respond to claims that bookmakers have suspended betting on Benitez's future.

A source close to the club said: "Rafa is not going to be sacked, such suggestions are ridiculous.

"We are aware of the rumours and speculation that has been buzzing around in Madrid but it is just not true."

Liverpool are also annoyed that the story has blown up on the brink of the crucial Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

The source added: "This has not bothered the manager or the team. Everything we have done since we arrived in Madrid has been spot on.

"Nobody has even mentioned this and we are surprised that such suggestions have been raised. Rafa Benitez is not about to be sacked by Liverpool."

Support for this view, enflamed by on-going contract negotiations, has come from one of Benitez's closest confidants.

Leading Spanish journalist Guillem Balague is a personal friend of Benitez and has dismissed claims the Liverpool boss is about to be axed.

On his website, Balague wrote: "There are reports that betting has been suspended on this particular market and the rumour that Benitez will be gone has spread like wildfire around the Liverpool supporters out here in Madrid and on the internet.

"If I am honest, I am not entirely comfortable indulging in these stories at the moment as there is so much misinformation being spread around that it is impossible to respond accurately to every single report or rumour.
"However, because of the number of people who are getting in touch with us, I feel I should respond.

"I can say with absolute certainty, categorically, that Rafa Benitez will not be sacked as manager of Liverpool this evening and that these rumours are not true.

"At the moment, the situation is delicate, and there have been developments with regard to the ongoing contractual negotiations at Anfield, and this is something that we will discuss later."

Exclusive: Pepe Adamant Madrid Will Overcome Liverpool

Goal.com’s Spanish correspondent at the Bernabeu spoke exclusively to a disappointed but determined Pepe after his side’s loss to Liverpool.

Feb 25, 2009 8:07:03 PM

Real Madrid suffered yet another Champions League blow at the round of 16 when they were stung 1-0 at home by Liverpool overnight.

Despite controlling the majority of the game and creating countless openings, Los Blancos failed to break down the Reds defence and a tiny error proved fatal in the end as they allowed Yossi Benayoun to score an 80th minute winner.

Madrid defender, Pepe was upset with the childish blunder but he also lamented the bigger mistake that his side made.

“Logically, we are disappointed with this result as we let the match slip away because of a silly error from a set-piece,” he said.

“But throughout the entire game, the big mistake that we all made was that we couldn’t break down Liverpool’s defensive system.

“They had two lines of four in front of their goalkeeper at all times and that made it impossible for us,” he elaborated.

But the Portuguese center-back believes that the contest is far from over, even though they will require an outright win against a Liverpool side who have not lost at home in any competition since February 16, 2008.

“We will go to Anfield with the mentality that we can overturn this tie. We are going there with the kind of winning spirit that has always characterized Real Madrid.

“It’s very unpleasant to take a 1-0 deficit there but we are going to do everything to make it up to our fans. It is necessary to have faith that we can achieve it,” he concluded.

Before the return leg clash in Liverpool, Madrid will shift their focus back to the Primera Division where they travel to Espanyol this weekend and host Atletico Madrid next week.