Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez demands cash to back up Fernando Torres
Rafael Benitez delivered a warning to Liverpool's owners last night, claiming he cannot take his team any further unless the Americans open the door to new investors.[LNB] The Anfield boss admitted that some players were unhappy over his decision to replace top scorer Fernando Torres during Sunday's draw at Birmingham, but he responded to renewed questioning over the issue by blaming Liverpool's problems on the lack of finances.[LNB] Game face: Torres trains under thewatchful eye of Benitez[LNB]Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett allowed Monday's midnight deadline on the Rhone Group's £110million offer for a 40 per cent stake in the club to pass without response, and Benitez could hardly hide his frustration.[LNB] The Spaniard is clearly growing tired of having his hands tied while being asked to meet high expectations and compete with Europe's top clubs.[LNB] With his guarantee of a top-four league finish looking more tenuous by the day, Benitez is coming under pressure to deliver the Europa League ahead of tonight's quarter-final second leg at home to Benfica with his team trailing 2-1.[LNB] He said: 'For six months I was really optimistic, especially with this group. The Rhone Group were one of the groups who were there, but they are not there now. I'm not happy with the situation but I will try and do my best.[LNB] 'I don't think the players can do any more. They are all trying but if we don't have a new investor it will be difficult to go one step further.[LNB] Benitez substitutes Torres at Birmingham[LNB] 'We have been for six years wheeling and dealing and keeping theclub at a very good level, but it is very difficult to stay at thelevel that everyone is expecting.[LNB] 'For six years in a row we were in the Champions League. That was unexpected and we brought big money into the club.[LNB]'I was watching Barcelona and Arsenal. Barcelona has a massive stadium, big money in the transfer window and a lot of players coming through the system. That is the way to do things if you want to compete at the maximum level. We have to improve in a lot of things.[LNB] 'If we want go one step forward we need to do something different - something different is not just on the pitch.'[LNB] [LNB][LNB] Benitez has been strongly linked with Juventus in recent months andreports in Italy yesterday claimed the Turin club want a new man inplace this month.[LNB]Asked if he could lose patience waiting for new investors and quit at the end of the season, Benitez said: 'We have to be positive and hope that investment will come. We need some players and we need to improve. If you need three or four players then you need money.[LNB] 'When I signed a new five-year contract I knew it could be difficult. We were waiting for the investors and the players have the same opinion. Now we have to stick together and prepare for the game properly because it is the only way.'[LNB] The decision to replace Torres with David Ngog after 65 minutes at Birmingham with the score at 1-1 raised eyebrows among captain Steven Gerrard and his team-mates, but Benitez claimed the Spain striker was simply exhausted.[LNB] 'The players were not unhappy,' he said.[LNB] 'Maybe one player or two players were not happy, but the performance of the team was one of our best away from home.[LNB] 'Fernando will be a key player for us against Benfica. Hopefully he can play really well and we can talk about how many goals he scores.' [LNB] Fernando Torres fit to face Benfica as Liverpool chase Europa League gloryBenitez: Torres is right, we do need to bring in new players this summer[LNB] [LNB]
