Rafa holds Champions League crisis talks

Sat, 07 Nov 19:54:23 2009

Rafael Benitez has held talks with his Liverpool bosses over the implications if the club fail to reach the last 16 of this season's Champions League.

Discussions were also held on if the club fail to qualify for next season's lucrative European competition and the Liverpool manager revealed that the club did not budget this term for anything beyond the group stages.

Benitez said: "I spoke to Christian Purslow (Liverpool's managing director) the other day about the finances. The first thing, though, is that we have confidence we can still reach the last 16 of the Champions League this season."

And Benitez insisted he was confident that financial problems next season will be avoided "because we will achieve a top four finish".

Liverpool have never failed to reach the last 16 under Benitez's management, but they are in grave danger of that eventuality now with qualification from Group E out of their hands after the midweek draw in Lyon.

They must hope that Lyon win their next match away to Fiorentina, and that Liverpool win their final two group games to produce the "miracle" Benitez admits they need now.

Liverpool face earning £10million less from their European campaign this season if they do not reach the last 16, with another £10million lost if they do not qualify for next season's group stages.

Benitez added: "Whatever happens, the budget was done for this season based on us only qualifying for the group stages. And we did that, that is complete.

"Whether we can still bring in more money, we will wait and see. The commercial department is working very hard, for the next season (in Europe) it is a question of time.

"The Premier League is a long race, we must keep going. I am confident the team will finish in the top four and we are able to continue to do well in Europe."

 

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

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  1. What do U call a gay couple? Man United

    From eric, on Sun 8 Nov 10:27AM
  2. What do U call a gay couple? Man United

    From eric, on Sun 8 Nov 10:27AM
  3. What do U call a gay couple? Man United

    From eric, on Sun 8 Nov 10:27AM
  4. Dont worry Mr.rafa. just ignore all the comments.. u­ did a good job so far.Long Live Mr.Rafa!!

    From Del Reds Piero, on Sun 8 Nov 7:23AM
  5. Benitez said: "I spoke to Christian Purslow­ (Liverpool's managing director) the other day about­ the finances. The first thing, though, is that we have­ confidence we can still reach the last 16 of the­ Champions League this season."

    I'd respect­ Benitez if he said " we looked f ucked in the­ champions lge" how can you say we have confidence­ in progressing when it's not in your hands, if you­ do go through it's not down to you!!!!!!!!! @#$%

    From rugmeister68, on Sun 8 Nov 6:02AM
  6. Jengkala. Totally agree, why do some supporters have­ such faith in this useless pile of spanish @#$%? He­ hasn't a clue.

    From timsretreat, on Sun 8 Nov 5:00AM
  7. rafs been on flashback and seen 6 months into the­ future looserfools are in the europa leauge fighting­ relegation and rafa is seving paella in a spanish­ resturant

    From livinthepast, on Sun 8 Nov 4:49AM
  8. really yip? a chelsea fan preaching that a lot of money­ won't win you the league?
    total spend (transfers­ paid less transfers rec'd) since rafa took over has­ has liverpool behind chelsea, man u, man city and­ tottenham

    From Donald, on Sun 8 Nov 4:38AM
  9. Sorry YIP you are wrong, total spend this term £38m­ purchases, £35M received, actual spend less than £5M

    From Peter L, on Sun 8 Nov 3:50AM
  10. 'The Fat Petulant Spanish One' is past his­ sell-by-date! However,who do you replace him with? All­ the decent managers are employed. He cannot help who­ his employers are.
    Maybe he has to realise that this­ current squad of players are not good enough to compete­ with the best. Liverpool FC are historically great, and­ that's it. Yes, it's nice to look back at what­ went before, but that doesn't put trophies in the­ cabinets!

    From Veteran, on Sun 8 Nov 3:33AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    oh and a new manager and a money wont win you the­ league. you still have a worse team than about 6 others­ and if you lot can improve so can the other teams as­ well.

    your lots problem is that you think you have­ the right to win the league because you are so arrogant

    From yip, on Sun 8 Nov 3:30AM
  12. shut up owen you idiot. he spent nearly 40 million in­ the last transfer market an about the same in the 1­ before. he has bought more players than you would think­ possible. and selling players is his problem, he­ shouldt be buying players that he is just going to sell­ on again

    From yip, on Sun 8 Nov 3:28AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    raffa did a good job before.... any true fan wont deny­ that.... but dont you all its time for change? maybe we­ could win the premiership......

    From nimal6, on Sun 8 Nov 2:57AM
  14. jengkala he had to sell them to finance other buys, you­ obviously don't pay that much attention. Forget­ the fact the craig bellamy took to a teammate with a­ golf clubover karaoke incident. Or did you forget­ that? Or perhaps you haven't supported the club­ that long?

    From michael, on Sun 8 Nov 1:48AM
  15. Benitez has only had 16 million a year net to spend if­ you calculate the ins and outs at the club he has made­ the club more money than that in the time he has been­ boss, we where heading to mid table before he took­ charge 2 champs league finals and a semi. Dont forget­ last season we finished with more points than in years.­ He has had nowhere near the amount of cash Fergie­ hughes or the latest manager at Chelski has had. Yanks­ out Raffa stays give hime 200 million to spend and not­ have to sell players to finance new players.
    Plus we­ have 12 injured players give the y guy a break for @#$%­ sake.

    From Owen, on Sun 8 Nov 1:33AM
  16. A team with the history of Liverpool should not be in a­ position where they need other teams to win so they can­ proceed into the play-offs. It's a disgrace..The­ biggest problem is not when Gerrard and Torres get­ injured, its because there are too many ordinary­ players and not enough quality in the squad.
    Sell the­ rubbish in January and concentrate on bringing in Top­ quality players, you only have to look at Chelski and­ Man Ure, as much as i hate to say it both squads are­ full of quality players.
    Until the powers at the top­ see that Rafa is so over-rated and hasn't the­ ability to take this club to the top then i'm­ afraid Liverpool FC and all its devoted followers will­ have to put up with always being oh so rans.

    From timothywalpole, on Sun 8 Nov 1:17AM
  17. What kind of manager who sold off Crouch and Bellamy­ and bring in Voronin and Ngog. A stupid, arrogant fat­ Spanish waiter who taught that Torres is the only­ striker he needed and will never get tired or­ injured.Go to hell Rafa!

    From jengkala, on Sun 8 Nov 12:49AM
  18. What kind of manager who sold off Crouch and Bellamy­ and bring in Voronin and Ngog. A stupid, arrogant fat­ Spanish waiter who taught that Torres is the only­ striker he needed and will never get tired or­ injured.Go to hell Rafa!

    From jengkala, on Sun 8 Nov 12:44AM
  19. said it b4 the season started that wen rafa said hes­ happy wit the the squad and hes puttin his faith in­ lucas that we r fu.ked..i hate been rite..i wish i was­ proved wrong but i wasnt..lucas is bloody 5hite..5 to­ 10 yard passin and lfc fans r sayin hes improvin..fu.k­ off all ye clown..lucas now and that long hair clown­ want 2 fu,k off..carra is passed it and that greece­ defender is shockin..season over in november..every 1­ could c wat we needed but not rafa..i said we needed­ 2r3 top class players b4 season started r we would b­ lucky 2 finish in top 4 ...i so hate beein rite..lfc 4­ life

    From johnsack27, on Sun 8 Nov 12:38AM
  20. rafa shut up with your nonsense you have wasted so much­ money with your poor signings

    From Ken A, on Sun 8 Nov 12:25AM
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