Premier League - Benitez calm over contract

Eurosport - Wed, 08 Oct 10:19:00 2008

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has dismissed rumours linking him with a move to Juventus as he waits on a new deal at Anfield.

2008-2009 Rafa Benitez glasses - 0

Benitez has just over 18 months to run on his current contract, alerting a number of clubs across Europe to the Spaniard's possible availability.

Juventus have been credited with an interest in Benitez as doubts grow over the long-term future of Claudio Ranieri at the Turin giants.

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks declared at the start of the year that he was keen to sort out a contract extension for Benitez, but as yet no new deal has been in the offing.

Benitez is not worried about the situation and is hoping he can sort out a long-term deal so that he can continue his plans on Merseyside.

"I'm not really worried about the situation at the moment," Benitez said.

"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."

Benitez, who is now in his fifth season at Anfield, also feels clubs can only thrive if they have a long-term approach and keep faith with managers.

"You can analyse the situation at other clubs in England at the moment," added Benitez.

"I will not talk about other managers, but 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."

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. They better keep rafa there his one of the best manergers in the clubs history

    From joeyharb@..., on Thu 9 Oct 1:28AM

  2. rafa stay...dic in...hicks n gillet out..........liverpool will have a good owner if dic were in the club....ynwa

    From naufal afif h, on Thu 9 Oct 1:21AM

  3. Benitez will be with us until the title comes home, then he will move on to a new challange at a new cub, with a lot more backing behind him...... He will allways be remembered as a legend at anfield if and when he moves on.

    From yellybear, on Wed 8 Oct 7:57PM

  4. 18 MONTHS still on his contact..................hey that's plenty of time!!!

    RAFA hasto use that time to show he can bring the PERMEIRSHIP back HOME!!!

    From Richie, on Wed 8 Oct 6:41PM

  5. Rafas simply got to stay.He's done very well so far considering all the speculation about the owners,new ground,Klinsman etc etc.He makes mistakes like the rest of us,but givin time you can iron out any faults etc.We are improving all the time and that hopefully this will lead to LFC winning the big one.The one we all want,the premiership.Then we can relax knowing we have won it at last.And hopefully we can go on to further success.We need to be more consistant and believe we can win it ..As mentioned time and time again SAF got lot of grief for not getting "Instant success" at UTD.I remember as a kid reading the daily mirror with glee at the stick he was getting at the time.But he is now up there with the greats of football,changing the team over time and again over many years to gain even more success.Sad to say it but i wish he had come to the mersey reds and not the manchester reds.Come on you red men.Liverpools red men that is.Tim,Bootle

    From timothy d, on Wed 8 Oct 6:20PM

  6. Rafa won't go, liverpool would be crazy to get rid of him. This is another story that will be forgotten like Gerald's speculated move to Chelsea.

    From Elsy, on Wed 8 Oct 4:02PM

  7. I love Liverpool and I just started to watch foot ball but I really like Rafa, his behave so good, to win the leugue is the dreaming of alls club but it has the one at the end so what? and if Rafa leave from Liverpool who is the best Manager who could led the club to top?
    Who could answer this question? From Cambodia

    From Miki, on Wed 8 Oct 3:38PM

  8. I love Liverpool and I just started to watch foot ball but I really like Rafa, his behave so good, to win the leugue is the dreaming of alls club but it has the one at the end so what? and if Rafa leave from Liverpool who is the best Manager who could led the club to top?
    Who could answer this question?

    From Miki, on Wed 8 Oct 3:36PM

  9. RA-FA RAFAEL
    RA-FA RAFAEL
    RA-FA RAFAEL
    RAFAEL BENITEZ

    Rafa is the greatest manager and should stay

    From Suzy, on Wed 8 Oct 3:32PM

  10. Benitez is the best manager since wengers' arrival in the prem.

    From nicholasbnjmn, on Wed 8 Oct 3:08PM

  11. Give him a twenty year contract.They still wont win the league with him and yossi benayoun...!

    From chrismurph1@..., on Wed 8 Oct 3:08PM

  12. Rafa to stay
    never go away

    From Grant, on Wed 8 Oct 2:21PM

  13. Give him as long as he wants. I'd love another 5 years of you lot failing to win the league

    From Graham P, on Wed 8 Oct 1:09PM

  14. I am not a Liverpool supporter but Rafa is right, you have to give a manager time to develope the team, every manager has different ideas. Look at Man U, SAF was almost sacked because he did not deliver the results at first and now look at his record, it should say something about stability in the club management.

    From Alan K, on Wed 8 Oct 12:36PM

  15. i say contract for life - until Carra has his badges then he can be his understudy!

    From Adam, on Wed 8 Oct 10:27AM

  16. Benitez is going no where "we" still need his services in Anfield so so arlegacy is out of concern. The best this seasoon is to be the campion in England. Go ahead Benitez

    From adis_victor, on Wed 8 Oct 10:22AM

  17. rafas the man i say giv him a 10 yr contract.

    From stegreen82, on Wed 8 Oct 10:17AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account