Benitez waiting for new deal
08 Oct 2008 - 09:13:18
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez remains confident of a long-term stay at Anfield, with his current contract due to run out at the end of next season.
The Spaniard has smoothed over his differences with the club's American owners in recent months and is happy to wait on the offer of a new deal, despite having been linked with Juventus in recent times.
Benitez told the Daily Express: "I'm not really worried about the situation at the moment.
"I am trying to be pragmatic about it and am just concentrating on the things I can improve. It doesn't make it more difficult for me to plan for the future.
"I can only control things on the pitch, improve the squad and, if I can do that, then things will be easier in the future.
"I'm really pleased here and I have two more years left on my contract, so right now I'm just trying to do my job as best as I can.
"I've always said I want to stay here for many years, that hasn't changed.
"You can analyse the situation at other clubs in England at the moment. The problem in England now is that everyone wants to be successful too soon.
"That is the part of the game I don't like. I would prefer to have a long-term contract and then you can have a long-term plan.
"All managers need time, but it is more difficult to get that now. But that is not just a problem for me, all managers are in the same situation."