Rafa gets a shut up call from the owners
November 23, 2007
Liverpool are 5th in Premier League, and their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League are also not very bright. The owners have expressed their worry by telling Rafa Benitez to concentrate on games and not talk much about transfer plans.
On Thursday Benitez hinted Hicks and co-owner George Gillett were holding up his transfer plans and even suggested he could be England’s next coach.
“We told him to concentrate on the games coming up. I guess he didn’t like it,” Hicks told the Liverpool Echo.
“We will come over in December. That is the time to talk about other issues.”
Benitez arrived late for Thursday’s news conference, seemingly in a state of distress, and used the answer “I am focused on training and coaching my team” a number of times in response to a series of questions on various issues.
He also hinted his future could lie away from Anfield.
“Maybe I could be Steve McClaren’s replacement if I improve my English,” said the 47-year-old Spaniard.
“I was being serious. You never know what can happen in the future.”
Benitez is thought to have already started making plans for the January transfer window, but the club’s American owners do not seem to be thinking that far ahead at the moment.
“After the Champions League final in Athens, Rafa made certain demands of us and we responded to those demands in the summer,” said Hicks.
“We brought in some good players and spent more money than has ever been spent before at this club.
“This was the message we gave to Rafa recently and I think during the international break he must have grown a bit frustrated.
“For the time being we just need to be focused on what happens on the pitch.”
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