Benitez chasing Spain job

Spaniard wants to remain at Reds for now

By Mike Barton   Last updated: 20th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Benitez chasing Spain job

Benitez: Staying at Anfield

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Rafa Benitez has confessed that he would one day love to manage the Spanish national team.

The Liverpool boss has been the subject of constant speculation that he will leave Anfield this summer, with Inter Milan the latest club to be linked with the 50-year-old prior to rumours connecting him with Real Madrid and Juventus.

The former Valencia boss still has four years left on his contract on Merseyside, but with reports of financial woe and unrest in the boardroom, it is rumoured that key players and staff will leave in order to overhaul the team and service their debts.

Benitez however insisted that he was happy at Liverpool, despite an abject season by their standards, finishing seventh in the Premier League and failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, prompting many to call for the Spaniard's head.

"Right now I have four years left in my contract with Liverpool and I am very happy there," Benitez told as.com

"But, of course, in a few years, once [Spain coach Vicente] Del Bosque ends his work, I would like to be Spain coach.

"All of the Spanish coaches would like in the future to become national team manager."

Critics

Despite an incredibly disappointing season, Benitez stated he felt the side are good enough to bounce back, and that his successes in the early years by winning the Champions League and FA Cup have made expectations too high.

"My critics in London say that I am not a good manager but they forget many details," he said.

"Liverpool has averaged 69 points in the last 12 seasons.

"We made a huge mistake, as we won four titles at the start. Then people ask you for more, when in reality in the Premier League it's assumed that at the start a coach needs time to adapt.

"(Manchester United manager Sir Alex) Ferguson took seven years to win the Premier League."