David Maddock in The Mirror Today:
RAFA BENITEZ will stay at Anfield after a telephone call from new owner George Gillett gave him the promises he wanted.
Increasingly fervid reports in Spain suggest that Real Madrid are ready to make Benitez a money-no-object offer in the summer, to tempt him back to the Bernabeu.
The Spanish giants want to exploit the unease the Liverpool manager expressed last week, when he admitted that his side are not remotely close to challenging Manchester United and Chelsea.
But American tycoon Gillett has responded by mapping out his overview of the future of the club he bought in a £450million takeover with Texan Tom Hicks last month.
Gillett rang Benitez over the weekend and spoke from the heart about his views on the direction the club must take to return to the summit it occupied for so long.
The Spanish coach has also been sent several lengthy e-mails from the States informing him of the big plans the American pair have when they pick up the Anfield reins properly at the end of the season.
Benitez told close friends after the talks at the weekend that he is much more settled over his own future, and far more convinced that the new owners mean business.
Despite the continuing interest from Madrid, where Benitez played as a youth and reserve team player, and also cut his coaching teeth, the former Valencia manager, when asked if he would be at Liverpool next season, responded bluntly, "Yes, I will."
He has recently had a new house built on the Wirral, and even though there is genuine interest from Real as they look to replace Fabio Cappello, the Spanish coach is set to turn down the poisoned chalice on offer at the Bernabeu.
He is desperate to bring the Premiership title back to Anfield, backed by the promise from Gillett that he will have the funds to do so.
Injury-jinxed Chile winger Mark Gonzalez, meanwhile, has revealed how fellow crock Harry Kewell has helped him through his season of torment.
A succession of frustrating injuries have restricted the signing from Albacete to just 15 starts all season, and the winger admits to a real sense of disappointment.
Kewell has been plagued by a series of injuries that have become increasingly bizarre over the three-and-a-half years he has been at Anfield.
But that has helped him act as a counsellor to Gonzalez, who revealed: "Harry has talked to me about it because he has suffered in the same way since he came here.
"He knows just what I am going through. Harry has helped me a lot."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...name_page.html
RAFA BENITEZ will stay at Anfield after a telephone call from new owner George Gillett gave him the promises he wanted.
Increasingly fervid reports in Spain suggest that Real Madrid are ready to make Benitez a money-no-object offer in the summer, to tempt him back to the Bernabeu.
The Spanish giants want to exploit the unease the Liverpool manager expressed last week, when he admitted that his side are not remotely close to challenging Manchester United and Chelsea.
But American tycoon Gillett has responded by mapping out his overview of the future of the club he bought in a £450million takeover with Texan Tom Hicks last month.
Gillett rang Benitez over the weekend and spoke from the heart about his views on the direction the club must take to return to the summit it occupied for so long.
The Spanish coach has also been sent several lengthy e-mails from the States informing him of the big plans the American pair have when they pick up the Anfield reins properly at the end of the season.
Benitez told close friends after the talks at the weekend that he is much more settled over his own future, and far more convinced that the new owners mean business.
Despite the continuing interest from Madrid, where Benitez played as a youth and reserve team player, and also cut his coaching teeth, the former Valencia manager, when asked if he would be at Liverpool next season, responded bluntly, "Yes, I will."
He has recently had a new house built on the Wirral, and even though there is genuine interest from Real as they look to replace Fabio Cappello, the Spanish coach is set to turn down the poisoned chalice on offer at the Bernabeu.
He is desperate to bring the Premiership title back to Anfield, backed by the promise from Gillett that he will have the funds to do so.
Injury-jinxed Chile winger Mark Gonzalez, meanwhile, has revealed how fellow crock Harry Kewell has helped him through his season of torment.
A succession of frustrating injuries have restricted the signing from Albacete to just 15 starts all season, and the winger admits to a real sense of disappointment.
Kewell has been plagued by a series of injuries that have become increasingly bizarre over the three-and-a-half years he has been at Anfield.
But that has helped him act as a counsellor to Gonzalez, who revealed: "Harry has talked to me about it because he has suffered in the same way since he came here.
"He knows just what I am going through. Harry has helped me a lot."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...name_page.html
) but I am a true believer! 
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