Benitez thread

[Red Wino]

Rafa doesn't sound like a happy man. Let's hope things smooth over between the owners and the manager.



PRESS: Do you know how much you will have to spend from the American owners in January?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

Have you had any assurances you’ll have what you want?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

What about your long-term plan?

RB: My plan is training and coaching the team.

Is there anything upsetting you?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

Do you have anything to say?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

It’s clear something is up...

RB: You have my answer.

You’re very different from normal...

RB: You have my answer.

It’s clear that something is up, though. How can you focus on your training and coaching?

RB: I was preparing the training session before this Press conference. So I am always focused on training and coaching.

It’s not always possible, though...

RB: Yes, it is for me.

You said after the story linking you with Bayern Munich you were happy to stay here for a long time, is that still the case?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

We’re not going to tease it out of you, are we? You’re not normally late for a Press conference. You were obviously preoccupied by something...

RB: Because as always I was focusing on the training session.

Is there anything you would like to say?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

You always say you are focused on training and coaching, but you usually give answers to our enquiries, so how come it’s changed suddenly?

RB: Nothing. I’m just focused on training and coaching as always.

You did kind of suggest to the TV people that you were open to possibility of the England job. Is that something we should treat seriously?

RB: It’s your decision. You never know what will happen in the future.

Were you serious when you answered it?

RB: I was serious.

It would be dereliction of our duty not to point out that one day you say you are looking to stay here a long time, then the next day you are saying who knows about England for the future. Isn’t there a contradiction between the two?

RB: The future is the future. Now, as always I am focused on training and coaching my team, so I cannot say anything else. Just to keep preparing for the next game.

You’ve always said you wanted to stay here for years and years and talked about the future here?

RB: That is true.

So, what you’re saying suggests that perhaps the future here is in question?

RB: I am focused on training and coaching my team.

So who knows?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

Are you being allowed to do that as you wish?

RB: I am focused on training and coaching my team.

Does everyone associated with the club share that opinion?

RB: As always I am focused on training and coaching my team.

http://liverpoolfc.co.za/eve/forums/...3/m/6731051954

At least he sounds focused on training and coaching the team

[RedProf]

I am quite fearful for Rafa, for the 1st time in all this Owners vs Rafa saga that's been dragging on for months.

And I am losing a lot of faith in the Americans. Yes they have backed us so far and yes they are sorting out the stadium which is great (although as pointed out in a post above, they are not paying for it themselves).

It is so frustrating to have to put up with all this bull****. We're handily placed in the League and unbeaten. I think that may end tomorrow - I can't help but think these bad vibes will have an effect on us tomorrow and Rafa's focus may ironically be off the game and more on his future. Only natural after this.

And to think, with some unity, we could go on to really challenge this year. Now with this ****e, the situation we are in in the League could quite easily slide. ****ing typical.

What is clear, to anyone who follows football, is that Rafa is right - you have to get your deals done for the good players as soon as you can, before they go elsewhere and your rivals nab them. If it infuriates me, how must Rafa feel, when he wants Masch signed up and the Garay deal pushed through and whatever else we don't know about. He knows that if we delay we lose them. To have to sit idly by whilst Utd go and make the deal must be mind blowing. Why can't these Americans just trust the manager on this one, why can't they see that funds must be made available now. If that means having to gamble on no CL and doing this whilst the re-financing is going on, then do be it.

It does seem at times like they are operating to a different timescale to Rafa and that will never sit well with him. Nor me - I am desperate for us to win 19 and we're handily placed to do so. And if this power struggle doesn't resolve itself peacefully(which I really fear it won't) then Rafa will go - whether sacked or walking. And then we'll be in disarray like never before, imagine the likes of Torres being so pissed off he just wants to head back to Spain along with Alonso etc. Do we really think these boys will want to hang around if they are loyal to Rafa and think he's been badly treated?

Ok my post is on the black side, but for once, I really do sense trouble ahead. Over the Summer I laughed at the Count etc who were scaremongering, but this is being played out in the media so it is clear there is a big rift between manager and owner.

[Nicey]

The world has gone mad ..... You are all working for the Rags it would seem

[RedProf]

I'm usually quite reserved on these things Nicey, but this time to me it does seem to hold water.

[Nicey]

Nah mate its bollix and liverpool fans are a ****ing joke mate ... just a joke ..shocking piss poor cry babies .. who just like one big moan ,,, annoying as hell

[pjc1]

Is anyone else concerned?

Is anyone not worried about what is going on at Anfield?? I for one am - It seems obvious the owners are putting the club in jeorpardy by putting £500m+ debt on the club.

We used to pay £4m interest a year, but this will be approx £30m going forward. Liverpool have NEVER paid a dividend so the cash isn't coming from profits.

Additional TV and attendance money will not meet this shortfall.

Granted the new stadium looks great, but I see the only people to benefit from the takeover were Moores (£80m), Parry (£500k) and existing shareholders.

We spent approx £25m net this Summer which is what Liverpool should be spending - we're a top 5 European Side FFS.

I have a friend in the local media and he has privately voiced his concern but he doesn't give away any inside info as I tend to blab. It is obvious Rafa isn't happy and it wouldn't surprise me if he left - no inside info just a hunch.

[Pacman]

The world has gone mad ..... You are all working for the Rags it would seem

Well I'm worried mate.

For the first time I actually think he'll be off sooner or later. Something has gone on and he aint happy.

I don't think it's right that our chairman are half way round the world and haven't spoken to our manager since August in fact I think it's disgraceful.

[Pacman]

Nah mate its bollix and liverpool fans are a ****ing joke mate ... just a joke ..shocking piss poor cry babies .. who just like one big moan ,,, annoying as hell

So you think nothing whatsoever has gone on?

[Tee]

Nicey, I admire your apparent sense of level headedness, but clearly something is not right. It is so obvious that Rafa is unhappy, not about the Press or anything to do with England. I am worried about this and hope whatever it is, it is difused asap or our season will implode!!

FFS I even had a nightmare last night that we lost 5-3 to the barcodes

[Guest]

I don't think it's right that our chairman are half way round the world and haven't spoken to our manager since August in fact I think it's disgraceful.

If that's really the case and if Parry doesn't have any power whatsoever, then it's a problem. How can Rafa plan ahead if the suits aren't there ?

I still think he should have put a brave face and let nothing transpire at the PC yesterday but Rafa seems to be a man wearing his heart on his sleeve.

[AFII]

Well I'm worried mate.

For the first time I actually think he'll be off sooner or later. Something has gone on and he aint happy.

I don't think it's right that our chairman are half way round the world and haven't spoken to our manager since August in fact I think it's disgraceful.

It can't be that difficult to talk for at least 3-4 hours/week with Rafa. They don't exactly need to be in the same room.

[Imy]

It can't be that difficult to talk for at least 3-4 hours/week with Rafa. They don't exactly need to be in the same room.

Got to agree with Pacman and echo what i said on the other thread, what the feck is Parry there for?

Rafa should go to Parry who in turn should have weekly discussions with the owners, Rafa ringing them directly and them then ignoring him is stupid.

[Pacman]

It can't be that difficult to talk for at least 3-4 hours/week with Rafa. They don't exactly need to be in the same room.

I also think that Rafa was clearly pissed off about something and if reports are correct then he would have just got off the blower to Dumb & Dumber chariman services as he did his press conference so maybe he would have been a little different if he would have had time to clam down.

[Rich]

Ok, fans would be in uproar if G+T's statement had been released BEFORE the press-conference.

Rafa is making DIRECT reference to what he had been told in private - basically coach and train the team - forget about anything else (for the time being)

Rafa is FAR from happy. End of.

[fred_plasticine]

Got to agree with Pacman and echo what i said on the other thread, what the feck is Parry there for?

Rafa should go to Parry who in turn should have weekly discussions with the owners, Rafa ringing them directly and them then ignoring him is stupid.

that's only a rumour though that they're not in constant dialog, isn't it?
i refuse to believe that that's the way two hugely successful men go about their businesses ... that would be truely insane.