Rafa reveals Reds concern

Boss fears for future if cash injection cannot be secured

Last updated: 15th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rafa reveals Reds concern

Benitez: Focused on results

The priority has to be to improve things on and off the pitch.

Rafa Benitez
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Also see

Rafa Benitez fears for the long-term future of Liverpool if new, responsible owners cannot be found.

American duo George Gillett and Tom Hicks currently oversee events at Anfield, but the pair are not popular on the red half of Merseyside after plunging the club into massive debt.

Trying to operate on an unstable financial footing has meant manager Benitez has seen his hands tied in the transfer market.

That could have far-reaching consequences for the club, with UEFA Champions League qualification far from certain this term.

A cash injection is required to help establish stability both on and off the field, and Benitez admits failure to secure such funding could be disastrous for the Reds.

"My concern is about the future of the club, not one bad season," the Spaniard told the Liverpool Echo.

"The people who come in have to be the right people for the club.

"We have to take things forward for the good of the club and every day we are working hard."

Priority

Benitez has also sought to curb speculation surrounding his own future at Liverpool, with reports suggesting he is being lined up by Real Madrid as a replacement for the under-fire Manuel Pellegrini.

He insists he gives little attention to rumours and claims his sole focus at present is on helping his current employers get back to winning ways - starting with Monday's clash with Portsmouth,

"The club is the most important thing, more than anyone," he said.

"The most important thing is for everyone to try and do better and to improve performances.

"I don't want people talking about me. It doesn't matter.

"The priority has to be to improve things on and off the pitch."

Comments (27)

  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Earl Roby says...

How much money does Benitez need for the owners to be 'the right people'? The longer he stays,the more damage he does.NSNI.

Posted 19:01 15th March 2010

Amar K (liverpool fan) says...

I do not understand why Rafael Benitez insists before every game that is vitally important to the club to talk to the press about the owners, his future at the club, rumours and almost always "Looking to the next fixture, no?" Clearly the club are in turmoil and Rafael speaking about these things only makes the players focus on that instead of the game. I think Liverpool will not get the win today and I believe that Rafael, Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Aquilani will be sold.

Posted 17:58 15th March 2010

Trevor Goodwin says...

This is Rafa, saying I am off to Real Madrid and I will take Stevie G with me !

Posted 17:55 15th March 2010

Nigel Howard says...

Maybe this new investment that's been offered will ease the situation but we seriously need to get rid of the two yank muppets

Posted 17:48 15th March 2010

Nosmo King says...

Finally, Rafa admits he fears for Liverpool's future. Well, we've all been fearing about it for the last three seasons. His tatics, his signings (and sales) and obsession with his own political agenda has made Liverpool, once a football powerhouse, into a laughing stock, condemned to mediocrity with many many a dark year to follow.

Posted 17:28 15th March 2010

D Cooper (Liverpool fan) says...

I've been a life-long liverpool supporter and it's terribly disappointing to see the club's current status brought about, in my opinion, by poor ownership with the 50/50 split and Rafa's often poor decision making. For Rafa to come out and say he fears for the club given the investment issues is a little like the cat that got the cream and the cakes complaining of excessive flatulence after over-eating. He has spent so much money over the years, and either the talent has been poor, or his ability to grow that talent has been v weak. Of course Torres is perfect, Reina superb, and Alonso is missed, but the expenditure and bad decisions outweigh these positives. Liverpool's problems started with this fact, and got worse with seriously poor play this season. Time for a complete change of ownership and better management. Of course, who? is the question, but there needs to be a decent answer quickly.

Posted 17:12 15th March 2010

Rashid Mahmood says...

Go to Real Madrid n take the yanks with you.

Posted 16:45 15th March 2010

James Hughes says...

Well said Rafa. We just need to keep focused on improving things and hopefully some new owners will come in with a better idea. Good Luck for tonight. James

Posted 16:31 15th March 2010

Emma D says...

Well said rafa. Greedy americans wrecking the club behind the scenes, no wonder theres problems on the pitch!

Posted 16:06 15th March 2010

Dave Lunn (Leeds United fan) says...

Im sorry for the liverpool fans as always money talks. I feel you will be the new Leeds United if you fail to get champions league next season. League on is full of fallen giants, Leeds, Norwich, Charlton, Southampton.... Liverpool may be next. LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS

Posted 15:46 15th March 2010

Chris Taylor (Liverpool fan) says...

All things considered, I think Rafa would fit in very well at Real Madrid. I would be anxious of course that other Spanish assests did not follow him there, but Real might be able to find in Rafa someone in whom they could invest with better faith.

Posted 15:31 15th March 2010

Lee Parsons (Liverpool fan) says...

We need to get rid of both Rafa & the Americans, we need someone to come in and spend big in the summer & buy us 4-5 world class players and make our squad better, otherwise Gerrard & Torres will both leave & that will be the end of Liverpool FC.

Posted 15:31 15th March 2010

Stuart Tuck (Lincoln City fan) says...

I have never heard so much codswallop, Benitez hands are tied in the transfer market????? how much has he spent since being there? and how many players has he brought in? compare it to Chelsea Man utd Arsenal they all have much stronger squads than Liverpool even Villa has a better stronger squad and they have spent far less than Liverpool. He cant make good decisions in the transfer market end of story. He cant man manage or doesnt seem to have a plan B. Let him take over at Hull and people will see just how bad he is.

Posted 15:18 15th March 2010

Mark Graham (Chelsea fan) says...

Rafa has spent loads on players, I though he was the manager of Liverpool?? It's his job to motivate the players and get them winning. He's not doing that..he is trying to take the take the focus of his own failings and save his bacon.

Posted 15:05 15th March 2010

Sunit Agarwal (Liverpool fan) says...

Rafa do not blame others.. you should focus on the current team and position, future is after May which should not affect curent performance.. stop playing petty politics...

Posted 15:00 15th March 2010

John Parry (Liverpool fan) says...

Unfortunatly Rafa the main thing is that you just concentrate on the management aspect and getting us through this " bad " season as you call it, personally i think it is much worse and before we get investors in to replace waldorf and morimor Rafa needs to get this season finished on a high, liverpool will always be a valuable club, because of the history, the fans, the trophy room, but at the moment we are not much further ahead in the league as we were with Houllier, Evans or even Souness ( well maybe more than Roy Evans ) lets just get back to basics and remember how to love the game and play football instead of airing our laundry on in the public eye once again!

Posted 14:34 15th March 2010

Stefan Bryson (Manchester United fan) says...

So, now Rafa is pointing the finger at the owners. Didnt you picj the most recent players? Didnt you overplay an injured Torres and Gerrard earlier in the season. I told you, Rafa, that everyone would jumo ship! Now you are trying to "pass the buck" to the owners. Well, being an American, I agree that these two should own an American team as they do not know the extent of traditions at Anfield, agreed. But, no sense in hanging yourself by not taking any blame. How many players are leaving now? Torres, probably. Gerrrard, Chelsea bound? Kuyt, back to no one caresistan. Babel may have been a great player IF he would have ever been aloowed to play regularly. Ngog, Man Utd??

Posted 14:25 15th March 2010

Alex Thackray (Leeds United fan) says...

Having a larger transfer budget will not guarantee the title/champions league for Liverpool. You have to look at the teams currently challenging - Man Utd have racked up enormous debts and transfer spending has shown that! The signing of Smalling from Fulham. Arsenal have had limited resources for a few seasons now spending less than Liverpool in numerous windows, and finally Chelsea who have curbed their spending since the Shevchenko spending sprees. To say Liverpool have had their hands tied in the transfer market is an overstatement. Last summer alone the signings of Aquilani and Johnson totalled £40m. The major reason for Liverpool's poor form is the decisions of Rafa Benitez. In all the money spent, only few have added to the squad inherited from Houllier! Trying to sign Barry (average at Man City) to replace Alonso whilst he was there is possibly his biggest mistake, confirmed by Alonso as the reason he left. Negative tactics shown against smaller opposition (9 defensive outfield players against Hull) and the inability to realise players potential (Babel) all contribute. There is no direction at Liverpool anymore, and Benitez is unable to motivate his players to compete. A new manager is needed to keep hold of the stars e.g. Torres, Gerrard etc. Lets hope, for all Liverpool fans out there, Portsmouth show no fear against them and get the 3 points to heap the pressure on Benitez.

Posted 14:18 15th March 2010

Shaun R (Liverpool fan) says...

Do us all a favour Rafa and write that resignation letter NOW.You have made our club a laughing stock and I like many others cant take much more.Its an embarrasment ,the football is shocking.Thanks for your efforts but goodbye.

Posted 13:39 15th March 2010

Tom Mcgrath (Arsenal fan) says...

Excuses, Excuses... Rafa has spent far more than Arsenal but crucially he has spent it badly. For the £17m he spent on Johnson a full-back, he could have brought a few young players and then there are the big names he doesn't trust enough to give them playing time (e.g. Babel and Aqillani). Redknapp, O'Neil and Moyes have spent big but spent their money well. Rafa's boring defensive tactics are dragging the good name of Liverpool FC down. Gerrard and Torres are the only players I'd pay to watch at Liverpool. If you gave Rafa £100m he'd just buy more centre halfs and defensive midfielders. Keyword = Boring

Posted 13:39 15th March 2010
  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private