Rafa Benitez must win Champions League again to save his job
By David Maddock 18/02/2008
Rafael Benitez must repeat his unlikely 2005 Champions League triumph if he is to have any chance of saving his job at Liverpool.
The Anfield manager has come under even more pressure after the latest tale of woe in what is fast becoming a season of disaster. Home defeat in the FA Cup fifth round by Barnsley saw the Spanish coach booed by the normally loyal Kop fans. He was at his desk yesterday as Liverpool reported for training on Sunday in a desperate attempt to sort out the mess before the visit to Anfield tomorrow of Inter Milan.
But the situation looks grim. Benitez knows that no matter who owns the club at the end of the season, he will have to lift the European Cup - just as he did three years ago - if he is to have any chance of saving his neck.
Liverpool's American owners have had their run-ins with the Spaniard, and to be knocked out of Europe before the quarterfinals would be the last straw in their relationship.
But sources within DIC, the Dubai-based consortium trying to buy out Hicks and Gillett, have also indicated they will look for another manager if their takeover is successful.
Some senior figures at Anfield, who would act as advisors to DIC, have lost faith in Benitez, and only a Champions League triumph now would prevent them from moving against him, to search for a replacement they believe would "make less mistakes".
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-20323333/
By David Maddock 18/02/2008
Rafael Benitez must repeat his unlikely 2005 Champions League triumph if he is to have any chance of saving his job at Liverpool.
The Anfield manager has come under even more pressure after the latest tale of woe in what is fast becoming a season of disaster. Home defeat in the FA Cup fifth round by Barnsley saw the Spanish coach booed by the normally loyal Kop fans. He was at his desk yesterday as Liverpool reported for training on Sunday in a desperate attempt to sort out the mess before the visit to Anfield tomorrow of Inter Milan.
But the situation looks grim. Benitez knows that no matter who owns the club at the end of the season, he will have to lift the European Cup - just as he did three years ago - if he is to have any chance of saving his neck.
Liverpool's American owners have had their run-ins with the Spaniard, and to be knocked out of Europe before the quarterfinals would be the last straw in their relationship.
But sources within DIC, the Dubai-based consortium trying to buy out Hicks and Gillett, have also indicated they will look for another manager if their takeover is successful.
Some senior figures at Anfield, who would act as advisors to DIC, have lost faith in Benitez, and only a Champions League triumph now would prevent them from moving against him, to search for a replacement they believe would "make less mistakes".
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...9520-20323333/
, did Maddock think this up all by himself :whatever:
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