Source: Telegraph
Rafael Benitez not talking about Liverpool future
Benitez, whose current deal expires at the end of next season, has rejected four drafts of a new four-year deal and sources very close to the Liverpool manager believe he has reached breaking point despite the club's owners succumbing to his demands to have full control of transfer policy and recruitment to Liverpool's academy.[LNB]Tom Hicks and George Gillett had though an agreement had been reached last week but Benitez is believed to have turned down a new, improved offer. He insists he wants to stay at Liverpool but continues to fail to put an end to a year-long saga largely of his own making.[LNB]When asked if he expects the dispute to be sorted out in the near future, he simply repeated: "I only want to concentrate on football, that is what I said last week." [LNB]Thinking about matters on the pitch will not provide the Spaniard with any great solace. Dropping yet another two points at home, this time in a 1-1 draw with a Manchester City side who have not won away from Eastlands since August, means Benitez, who will today make a decision on Steven Gerrard's fitness for the Champions League tie with Real Madrid, accepts Liverpool's trip to Old Trafford on March 14 is the one remaining lifeline for their faltering title challenge.[LNB]He said: "Clearly we must go there and win because it is not easy to see them slipping up. If we want to reduce the gap we must win games, first against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then see if it is a different situation.[LNB]"It was a bad result because we didn't score the goal we needed to open the game up. We had chances to win the game even after we equalised but it was too late." [LNB]The draw was of far greater satisfaction to his opposite number Mark Hughes, who praised the drive and determination of his players, particularly the impressive Robinho.[LNB]Hughes no doubt sympathises with Benitez's PR travails. The Manchester City manager was at pains to dismiss claims of unrest in his dressing room, with reports of friction between Craig Bellamy and Robinho, saying: "I've read some of the things about our club and some of it is laughable.[LNB]"There are people who do not want us to succeed and I see through that. There are some good things and bad things that have been said but a lot of it is way off the mark." [LNB]
