Champions League - Benitez job 'not under threat'

PA Sport - Wed, 25 Nov 08:34:00 2009

Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow has insisted that manager Rafael Benitez's position "is under no threat" despite the club's first Champions League exit at the group stage for six years.

2009-10 Champions League Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez looks on at Debrecen - 0

Purslow made a point of doing media briefings after the game, and said: "You can never predict last-minute goals, which have cost us dear in the Champions League. That's no basis to make managerial decisions. He is under no threat."

He added: "We don't run our business in that respect. I'm on the record as saying Rafa's signed a new five-year contract, he's four months into that contract so to discuss that is not appropriate."

Benitez, meanwhile, claimed he was "more disappointed for the players, the staff and the fans" than for himself, but in the cold light of day they will no doubt review the 1-0 win over a poor Debrecen side - with Fiorentina securing qualification by beating Lyon by the same scoreline - as a bitter pill to swallow.

Referring to the financial damage of missing out on qualification from the group phase, Purslow added: "It's limited actually. Assuming we have a reasonable run in the Europa League then we are financially neutral for this year."

And after David Ngog's early strike had secured Liverpool their win in the Ferenc Puskas stadium, skipper Steven Gerrard said: "Of course it's disappointing, we played fantastically well and despite getting three points we don't progress.

"Now we'll be in the Europa League so we'll try to win that. The main prize has gone and to be playing in the Europa League is disappointing but we have to accept that, move on and try to win that competition.

"The only consolation for us now is if we go on and win the secondary one."

PA Sport

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  1. I am an ardent liverpool fan, and It is a welcomed­ developement to stumble for once but not stay down.­ Europa is a new format and I will be happy if we add it­ to our kitty. Realistically the only English teams that­ have any chance of getting to the last four are Chelsea­ and Arsenal. YNWA

    From Zubby, on Thu 26 Nov 11:56AM

  2. hehehehehehehe looserfool playing in the europa league?­ thats where they belong. in
    the uk, next season, they­ will be playing in the cocoa cola league with QPR,­ preston
    north end, blackpool, nottingham forest, mk­ dons, because of rafa the spanish waiter.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Thu 26 Nov 10:49AM

  3. hehehehehehehe looserfool playing in the europa league?­ thats where they belong. in
    the uk, next season, they­ will be playing in the cocoa cola league with QPR,­ preston
    north end, blackpool, nottingham forest, mk­ dons, because of rafa the spanish waiter.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Thu 26 Nov 10:48AM

  4. hehehehehehehe looserfool playing in the europa league?­ thats where they belong. in
    the uk, next season, they­ will be playing in the cocoa cola league with QPR,­ preston
    north end, blackpool, nottingham forest, mk­ dons, because of rafa the spanish waiter.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Thu 26 Nov 10:45AM

  5. typical chelsea fan they want another clubs misfortune­ to win it rather than be able to go out and win­ themselves

    From irenegowing, on Thu 26 Nov 9:49AM

  6. GRIFF THE P.R.I.C.K IN QUESTION WHO AS CLONED YOU IS­ FERGIEISAGENITALWART A SAD SCOUSER WHO CLONES EVERYONE­ COS HE IS A NOB

    From daz, on Wed 25 Nov 8:16PM

  7. why the feck would anyone be called THE REAL DAZMANUTD­ NOT THE FAKE CLONER TRUE BLUE HA HA DONT MAKE ME LAUGH­ TO ALL ITS FERGIEISAGENITALWART A SAD SCOUSER WHO­ CLONES EVERYONE AND AS NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH HIS­ PATHETIC LIFE .HE ALSO CLONED WALT JABASCO AND­ STUARTXLAND TODAY COS HIS TEAM ARE OUT OF THE CL AND­ THERE A PILE OF GARBAGE GENITALS YOUR A FULL ON­ D.I.C.K.H.E.A.D

    From daz, on Wed 25 Nov 8:13PM

  8. Liverpoooo fans get the toilet roll out, need to clean­ up that mess. HAHA

    From The M, on Wed 25 Nov 7:22PM

  9. Andy murray has a @#$% like a horses mouth nd henman­ lick the bittersweet juices that lie withn as it­ contains special vitimans......furthermore murray­ wouldnt score in a whorehouse of fat birds he looks­ like a guy who just came out of a sheeps arse!

    From Jack, on Wed 25 Nov 7:13PM

  10. 248 is that where you got your shyte from ? i'd­ live it alone if i were you ! it makes you talk like a­ @#$%

    From handyandyisalways, on Wed 25 Nov 7:11PM

  11. good luck to the English sides tonight!

    From handyandyisalways, on Wed 25 Nov 7:09PM

  12. LIVERPOOL SHOULD BE CAREFUL EUROPA LEAGUE THIS IS NOT A­ STROLL IN THE PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    AND MOST IMPORTANLY­ OUT WITH THE SCUMS !! OUT WITH THE YANKS!!!
    WHAT?IF­ RAFA WILL LEAVE ,YOU REALLY THINK THAT "KING­ KENNY" WILL GO ALONG WITH THE­ FOOOKING
    IMIGRANTS!!!!!! THAT WHAT THESE TWO YANKS­ ARE!!!!!!!!!

    From neagigi91, on Wed 25 Nov 7:07PM

  13. kiss of death from liverpool­ chairman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your job is safe ­ ,yeh right

    From lanesra, on Wed 25 Nov 7:06PM

  14. kiss of death from liverpool­ chairman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your job is safe ­ ,yeh right

    From lanesra, on Wed 25 Nov 7:06PM

  15. Great News! Benitez is staying! Yak! yak! yak!

    From Sid, on Wed 25 Nov 7:03PM

  16. JOHN TERRY'S FATHER IS A FOOOOOOOOOOKING DRUG­ DEALER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NOW THAT'S A­ NEWS!!!!!!!!!

    From neagigi91, on Wed 25 Nov 6:57PM

  17. keep up the good work rafa, you are doing a great­ job,we are so pleased you signed that new­ contract.
    from all at chelsea fc

    From telboy63, on Wed 25 Nov 6:54PM

  18. so,if the bin dippers (liverpool) win the europa­ league.Do they automatically qualify for it next season­ or have they got to finish in the top 6 or 7,because i­ cant see them finishing that high. Always the inter­ toto.

    From telboy63, on Wed 25 Nov 6:40PM

  19. we were just not good enough,stop making excuses,simple­ as that

    From john, on Wed 25 Nov 6:32PM

  20. Don't listen to all the Liverpool fans Rafa, you­ are doing a fantastic job. All these negative comments,­ just ignore them. Don't give up, just keep doing­ exactly what you are doing, we all certainly want you­ to stay. In you Rafa we truly trust. (From all­ your friends at MUFC Supporters Club (Old Trafford,­ Manchester)

    From ian h, on Wed 25 Nov 6:26PM
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