Rafa: 'I Want To Stay Here For Very Long Time'

[Nicey]

I think I might be gay because I fooking love this man ... really truly love him

Rafael Benitez has re-affirmed his commitment to Liverpool at the end of another week of turmoil at Anfield.

The Liverpool chief made his position clear ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to struggling Fulham and with the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea on the horizon.

Benitez had cast grave doubts about his long-term future at the club last weekend in the row over exactly who attended meetings before Christmas with Jurgen Klinsmann when the manager's job was discussed.

Benitez demanded answers from co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, plus chief executive Rick Parry.

And a day after Hicks and Gillett again squared up to each other in a very public breakdown of their partnership, Benitez now seems much happier with his position.

He refused to discuss the ongoing ownership battle or any meetings he may have had with his bosses.

But he was keen to point out: "At this moment I have two years of my contract still to go, I am really pleased and really happy here. And I want to stay. And I want to stay for a long time."

Asked if he had spoken to Hicks, Gillett or Parry, Benitez said: "I do not need to talk to them, I need to talk with my staff and my players.

"We have been training and all I want to talk about is the games against Fulham, and then Chelsea. We will be preparing for the games properly."

But he also seemed relaxed about potential summer transfer funds, despite the club being unsure of who will be at the helm by then.

He said: "As far as transfer money is concerned, I cannot be sure. But we will try to do our best, the scouting staff and I know what to do and we are progressing and working on things.

"The scouts are doing a fantastic job and we are trying to progress with the targets we have."

On the ongoing crisis, all Benitez would say was: "I want to win against Fulham, I know everyone is asking and talking about other things, but I am a professional and I want to concentrate on football.

"We need these three points to be as close to fourth place as quickly as possible.

"Things (around the club) have not been a distraction for the players. We have confidence in ourselves and we are playing well.

"That shows the strength of our squad, the quality and the character of the players.

"I feel that the players are showing they are good professionals.

"They are focused, they are concentrating on games. That is the key to our success now."

With the chance that skipper Steven Gerrard and full-back Alvaro Arbeloa may well be out injured at Craven Cottage - as well as the likelihood that Fernando Torres could be rested - the Anfield chief, also addressed concerns a weakened Liverpool team could boost Fulham as they fight against the drop.

He faced similar criticism at the same time last season with an identical game at Fulham as Liverpool were successfully negotiating a Champions League semi-final.

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock expressed his anger - the Fulham win then enough to save them from the drop.

Now Bolton boss Gary Megson has expressed his desire that Benitez field a full side.

But the Spaniard refuses to concede that his actions have much bearing on the situation.

He said: "Obviously I will be thinking a bit about playing key games in Europe after Fulham. But the key is to keep winning, we may do it with different players and we need to use other players.

"We have a big squad, good players to come in and we will treat this game just like we did at Arsenal.

"I know there was criticism last season when we did something similar at Fulham, coming from Sheffield United.

"But what did they do in their last game? They lost. So I feel it is sometimes better to look to yourself and what you do.

"Teams have 38 games to play each season, that is enough. So you are responsible for your own luck.

"Look at what all the teams in the middle of the table have been doing recently. They have been using different players, young players, and they have been preparing for the future.

"What did Bolton do in the UEFA Cup with their team selection?. They left players out.

"I will use the players I believe will be good enough to win this game, and the next one and the next one. I believe 38 games is enough to be successful or not.

"And clearly our squad is stronger than it was last season when we got to this stage.

"We should have won that game against Fulham then. And I will put out a team I believe can win this time.

"I will be thinking a little bit about Chelsea. I have players I do not want to risk, and I have enough quality in the squad to win at Fulham."

[Zambian_Red]

I wonder which player this could be as he mentions that he speaks good english and he isnt english means that he is obviously a foreign player might be an international either currently playing in the premiership or playing in another league.

I guess we can narrow it down to some players, i will have a go berbatov? or Henry?


Benitez stays calm amid the Anfield storm

By Graham Chase
Saturday, 19 April 2008


Rafael Benitez maintains the latest twists in the battle for power at Liverpool are not affecting him and claims the fact that he has already signed a player for next season is evidence that he is still able to work effectively despite the ongoing problems at Anfield.


Having been unable to conceal his anger at claims that chief executive Rick Parry was involved in attempts to bring Jürgen Klinsmann to the club last year and after demanding his situation was clarified by the board following the 3-1 win over Blackburn last Sunday, Benitez could hardly have been less confrontational yesterday.

But he was far from expansive when pressed on whether he was satisfied with the response he had had to his outburst last weekend. "I was talking after the game against Blackburn and since then, we have been progressing," Benitez said. "That means we have been in contact. As a club, we have been progressing, and that is positive.

"I will not explain too much, but from Sunday until now, we have been progressing. So we continue working and doing our job. We have some signings for the next season done. They are senior players for the first team and young players for the first team and reserve team. [B]Two of them are really close, young players, and one senior player is done. He talks good English, but is not English."[/B]

Benitez said he had not seen Tom Hicks' latest interview in which the American, who is keen to show his support for the manager, once again demanded Parry's resignation as the club's owners spent another week trading criticism.

Despite having stoked the fires himself, Benitez remains adamant that it is business as usual at Anfield and reiterated his desire to stay on Merseyside for at least the two years that remain on his contract.

"We are trying to go forward," he added. "We have had meetings with the scouting department, we talk about targets and they travel all around the world talking with players and agents. We are trying to do our job. I am really pleased here and really happy, I want to stay and I have two more years left on my contract. We are working on trying to improve the squad for next season. We have some movements for next season, so we will continue trying to do the same."

Asked if he could walk away this summer if the off-field limbo continues, Benitez said: "No. At this moment, no. I think the squad is already better for next season than for this season."

Benitez, who has a doubt over Steven Gerrard ahead of today's game at Fulham due to a minor neck problem, was not concerned about comments from the Cottagers' relegation rivals related to his selection. "Each manager has his own problems," he said. "I will try to win with my team. If I have been criticised for teams selection for years, I will do the same if it's good enough to win."

[Zambian_Red]

I forgot to add that the two younsgters are really close to signing and the senior player is already done and dusted. If my memory serves me right a few weeks ago Rafa did mention that the senior player would walk in the first 11

[tommyg]

does rafinhia speak good english? (i probably spelled his name wrong yes... haha)

[wavydavy]

Brian McBride's english isn't bad

[shanks69]

maybe he's scottishsorry

[Leyton388]

The weekend has started good. First the DIC news and now the news Rafa wants to stay. Something must have ben said with him a Parry behind closed doors as old rafa sounds a lot calmer and happier than he did last week.

Hope the new signing is Henry or Ronnie

[shanks69]

to be honest i think henry may be past it he's had a few injuries at barca and hasn't set the world alight when he has played.maybe wenger was right to sell when he did,he may have seen his best days had gone.

[Roboklopp]

I love Rafa too- was just saying the same to my girlie.

Daily Post's take on it is les positive:

Rafa Benitez not yet ready to commit his future to Liverpool
Apr 19 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post


Rafa Benitez

RAFAEL BENITEZ yesterday stopped short of committing his long-term future to Liverpool after another week of turmoil behind the scenes at Anfield.

Fresh doubt has been cast on the Spaniard’s tenure after it emerged last Sunday that chief executive Rick Parry was present at meetings with Jurgen Klinsmann to discuss a proposal to become the new Liverpool manager.

Benitez was unhappy at a revelation he regards undermines his position, and has since had tentative contact with both co-owner Tom Hicks and Parry to clarify the situation.

But while the Liverpool manager yesterday reiterated his desire to “stay for a long time” – and confirmed the imminent arrival of three new signings – he refused to consider his future beyond the end of the season.

Privately, the Spaniard believes that unless Liverpool’s ownership situation is resolved during the summer, he will have no option but to listen to offers from elsewhere with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Valencia interested in his services.

An agreement between Hicks and co-owner George Gillett would appear as far away as ever with the pair once again at loggerheads on Thursday.

Given the uncertainty off the field, Benitez was keen to concentrate on this afternoon’s Premier League game at Fulham.

But of his future, he insisted: “I am really pleased here and really happy, I want to stay and I have two more years left on my contract. I want to stay. And I want to stay for a long time.”

Asked if he could imagine himself walking away, Benitez responded: “At this moment, no. I think the squad is already better for next season than for this season.

“For now, it’s time to deal with problems on the pitch. I can’t change the other things.

“I understand why you need to ask about this, but you need to understand I will talk about Fulham, Chelsea a little bit if you want, but I’m not considering the future now. The future for me is Fulham.”

Benitez added: “I was talking after the game against Blackburn. Since then, we have been progressing. That

means we have been in contact. As a club, we have been progressing, and that is positive.

“I will not explain too much, but since Sunday until now, we have been progressing. So we continue working and doing our job, I was preparing the games and we have been progressing in other issues.

“Did I watch the interview with Tom Hicks? I read some pieces on the interview but I didn’t watch it.”

Benitez confirmed that his plans for next season include the arrival of one first-team squad member and two young reserves, although the likelihood is the signings will not rely on any major funding from the embattled Anfield board.

“We are working on trying to improve the squad for next season,” said Benitez. “We have some movements for next season, so we will continue trying to do the same.

“At least we are trying to go forward. We have had meetings with the scouting department, we talk about targets and they travel all around the world talking with players and agents. We are trying to do our job.

“We were this morning progressing in some issues and we will do the same. We have some signings for the next season done. They are senior players for the first team and young players for the first team and reserve team. Two of them are really close, young players, and one senior player is done. He talks good English, but is not English.

“You need to look for Bosman players. Sometimes you need to do it quickly and go for cheap players. We were doing this movement. Is the new signing a Bosman? Could be a free transfer, could be a cheap signing.”

[Roboklopp]

Agree about Henry being past it- he dont look interested at Barca. Spose you could say he needs adoration to thrive tho & he'd get it with us more than there.

Cannot see it tho- he wouldnt be cheap & neither would Ronnie (who I feel the same about).

[The Glove]

Id be the most gutted if Rafa left above any player. Although Mascher would be a close second.

[Roboklopp]

Masher & Torres a close second aye, but TBH I'd worry about a lot of the players Rafa had brought in if he were to leave, so it'd be a double-blow I feel.

[The Glove]

Not arsed if Torres goes, I only ever like players that get stuck in and snap cunts in half.

[Roboklopp]

By the standards of a foreign superstar skillful striker, Nando is a pretty physical player. You cant have 11 DMs in the team.

[The Glove]

By the standards of a foreign superstar skillful striker, Nando is a pretty physical player. You cant have 11 DMs in the team.

I just love people who get stuck in. Cant be doing with anyone who doesnt. Fair play, Torres can do the rough and the smooth so he would be missed but Id have a team of Maschers, Carras, Skittles, Hyypias, Sounesses etc etc any day.


I think in general I like to watch a fight.