Benitez thanks Reds fans
29 Nov 2007 - 07:35:33
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez thanked the Liverpool fans who showed their support for him throughout Wednesday's 4-1 victory over Porto.
The Reds kept their Champions League campaign alive with the Anfield win in which Fernando Torres was on the mark with a deadly double.
The pre-match talk was of a simmering feud between Benitez and the club's American owners over future transfer policy and the home fans showed their support for the Spanish coach with a march to the stadium and constant chanting throughout.
"Firstly I must thank the Liverpool fans, they are always magnificent," said Benitez.
"I knew what was going on, but I was focused on my team and the game.
"I promise you, I was only thinking of the game and my responsibilities. But thank you supporters, you were fantastic."
Meanwhile, Benitez suggested he had "no personal problem" with either Tom Hicks or George Gillett despite his public spat with the former last week in which he was told to focus on training his players.
"I do not have any personal problem with the owners, I was just talking about the club's future," he insisted.
"People have said it was all because of my ego, but that is not the case. I was just surprised a little bit with what has happened.
"I was only trying to improve my club. We will have to wait but it is a strange situation. But I repeat, I have no problems with the owners.
"I could just do nothing and take my wages at the end of the month. But I need to be involved and I hope they will understand.
"We will talk again, and it is nothing to do with this result putting me in a stronger position, that is not of consequence.
"I just have ideas for the future. I am in the same situation with the same views that I had before."