GWistooshort

From today's Liverpool Daily Post............... Unless Liverpool win at Hull City and Villa fail to beat Blackburn Rovers at home, Liverpool will enter the competition at the third qualifying round, with ties to be played on July 29 and August 5 ahead of the start of the Premier League campaign on August 14. The first leg comes just 18 days after the World Cup finishes in South Africa – with the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard hopeful of appearing in the final. Fulham, who finished seventh last year, began their Europa League campaign at the same stage this season and have played 18 games to reach next week’s final against Atletico Madrid. It is actually possible two more English clubs could be in the Europa League next season, Fulham going through as holders if they win the trophy and England are on course for another berth through the Fair Play table which would almost certainly go to relegated Burnley. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/05/05/rafael-benitez-ready-for-crunch-talks-as-liverpool-fc-face-july-start-to-next-season-92534-26378448/2/

Buffon praising Rafa in the press today................ "Rafa's CV is really good. Tactically he is a very good manager but he has also showed he can deal with problems off the pitch," said the Italy international. "Benitez is a great professional that every team would like to have." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/7677984/Rafael-Benitez-wants-to-stay-at-Liverpool-says-agent.html

Don't agree with that from Barrett if he's saying Rafa should give in, because that basically means accepting Hicks & Gillett's continued use of the club's profits to pay for the debt they have put on the club

There are quite a few articles appearing now saying that Torres is considering his future, eg the Rory Smith article in the Telegraph this morning (copied below), several of which say he's fallen out with Rafa. Positioning it as a choice between Rafa & Torres/Gerrard is exactly what someone who wanted Rafa out would be briefing to the press right now - not saying it's happening, but it does look suspicious to me Rafael Benítez accused of snubbing crisis talks with new Liverpool chairman By Rory Smith The schism between Liverpool’s board room and boot room was laid bare yesterday when claims emerged that Rafael Benítez had twice postponed meetings with the club’s chairman, Martin Broughton, despite the Spaniard’s repeated pleas for immediate talks on his future. It is believed Benítez was scheduled to meet Broughton, brought to Anfield last month to secure new owners for the club, both before the first leg of Liverpool’s Europa League semi-final with Atletico Madrid and prior to Sunday’s home game with Chelsea. Both meetings were cancelled because of concerns over whether Benítez would be able to attend due to Liverpool’s hectic schedule over the last fortnight. An already crowded timetable was rendered even more problematic by the prolonged journey the club were forced to undertake to Spain. The Liverpool manager has admitted he still does not know when he will meet Broughton, though it is likely to be in the next few days. He is expected to seek reassurances over the likelihood of new investment in the club, the level of transfer funding he would be granted should several of Liverpool’s best players choose to leave and what, if any, support he retains in the board room. That there can be such disparity in the claims over who has delayed that meeting suggests little prospect of the talks themselves yielding satisfactory answers. Though Benitez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, insisted his client fervently hopes to see out the remaining four years of his contract at Anfield, the mixed messages will only serve to heighten the expectation that he will feel forced by circumstance to depart. Regardless of whether Benítez remains in situ, several of Liverpool’s stars will consider their futures this summer, with Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano among the most concerned at the club’s rapid decline. The penury which has contributed to that precludes sacking the Spaniard, while Juventus, his primary suitors, are believed to be keen to avoid paying Liverpool compensation should they be able to, meaning the decision rests in Benitez’s hands. The Italian side, though, have made it clear they will not wait indefinitely for an answer. Beppe Marotta, who will be installed as Juventus’s technical director at the end of the Italian season, is believed to favour an Italian candidate. He is expected to direct the club’s new president, Andrea Agnelli, to approach Fiorentina’s Cesare Prandelli. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/7678980/Rafael-Benitez-accused-of-snubbing-crisis-talks-with-new-Liverpool-chairman.html

The Independent 5 May 2010 Benitez's rift with boardroom grows wider By Ian Herbert The profound sense of dislocation between manager and boardroom at Liverpool was laid bare once again yesterday with suggestions from within Anfield that Rafael Benitez had twice failed to make appointments with the club's new executive chairman Martin Broughton. On a day when Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez expressed puzzlement at a situation that may see his compatriot Benitez join Juventus within the next week, Anfield sources responded to the manager's seemingly innocuous declaration of intent to see Broughton "sooner rather than later" by suggesting that the manager had not taken his opportunities. The reasons for the meetings failing to materialise relate to fixture commitments: one meeting planned for 20 April – which Benitez had mentioned at a press conference the night before – clashed with the early train departure needed for the overland trip to Atletico Madrid. The second had been planned for 24 hours before Sunday's Chelsea match, but the manager decided he had to lift his side after their Europa League elimination. The fact that Benitez's mere declaration of intent to meet Broughton appears to have been called into question magnifies the strained relationships within Anfield, which are understood to be the primary factor driving the manager towards the exit. Among the issues at the top of Benitez's list for discussion with Broughton, if and when he gets his meeting, is his own relationship with the club's managing director, Christian Purslow. Benitez is expected to ask Broughton why he was not informed two weeks ago when the club made contact with Real Madrid to discuss the possibility of signing Rafael van der Vaart. That was an issue of annoyance and frustration for the manager and evidence, as he sees it, that some at Anfield are attempting to make him persona non grata. Benitez's other prime concern is the level of spending he will be permitted this summer, with the Spaniard seeking an assurance that any income from player sales will be ploughed back into the transfer budget. Perhaps crucial to whether Benitez will stay is his own willingness to give ground and tolerate others, though his history of battles with the senior management of clubs he has managed suggests this is by no means certain. Benitez's caustic relationship with Purslow's predecessor, Rick Parry, followed a difficult time with Jesus Pitarch, sporting director at his previous club, Valencia. Benitez criticised Pitarch's signings and was indignant about Parry's failure to sign players he wanted. But the idea of another club being approached about a new acquisition without Benitez having any knowledge certainly takes him into troubling new territory. Martinez said yesterday that "the whole situation doesn't really make sense" and recalled that Valencia only appreciated Benitez after he had gone, having allowed him to depart for Merseyside six years ago. "I think Rafa is one of those managers everyone values when he has left," Martinez said. "He was at Valencia, won the league there and when he left most people felt it was time for him to move on and yet they look and now they would like to have Rafa back." http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitezs-rift-with-boardroom-grows-wider-1962365.html

The Mirror are going big on Rafa leaving today.......................

From Reuters........................ Inter's Mourinho coy over immediate future ROME Tue May 4, 2010 6:18pm ROME (Reuters) - Inter Milan's Jose Mourinho was not certain he would remain at the Champions League finalists next season, the Portuguese coach said on Tuesday. Asked if he would stay next term, Mourinho told a news conference: "I can't say it, in football you can never say a thing like that." Mourinho has a contract until 2012 but has consistently said he does not like Italian football, fuelling media speculation he could end up at Real Madrid or back in England. Inter, who face AS Roma in the Italian Cup final on Wednesday, also lead the Rome side by two points at the top of Serie A with two games to go as they seek an unprecedented Italian treble. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6434PD20100504

From the BBC website.............. 4 May 2010 Rafael Benitez twice cancels Liverpool showdown talks By David Bond BBC Sports Editor Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has cancelled two scheduled face-to-face meetings with the club's new chairman, Martin Broughton. Benitez claimed on Monday that he was anxious to "meet with the chairman sooner rather than later". But it is understood that he pulled out of talks with Broughton last week and another the week before. A further meeting is scheduled for this week amid speculation about Benitez's future with the club. Liverpool went out of the Europa League last week and have failed to qualify for next season's Champions League. It is not clear why Benitez cancelled the meetings with Broughton, although the last two weeks have been affected by preparations for Liverpool's Europa League semi-final meetings with Atletico Madrid. The first week in particular was heavily disrupted as Benitez's team were forced to make the long journey to the Spanish capital by road and rail after flights were grounded by ash from the Icelandic volcano. But, even allowing for that, there is some surprise inside the Anfield boardroom at the timing of Benitez's call on Tuesday for an urgent meeting with Broughton to discuss the future. That plus the Spanish manager's request for assurances over his summer transfer kitty would seem to suggest that Benitez is stalling for time, with a possible £3.5m-a-year offer to quit Liverpool for Juventus thought to be on the table. Benitez, who could receive somewhere between £10m and £15m in compensation were he to be sacked by Liverpool, was unavailable for comment but was quoted on Tuesday as saying: "I would like to meet with the chairman sooner rather than later to know his idea about the future. "Still, we are working hard and planning for the future. Liverpool is a massive name in England and again in Europe. Everybody knows about the history of the club and the fans, so we can still attract players to improve the squad." Liverpool have refused to comment on the cancelled meetings. With the five-time European champions set for their first season out of the Champions League since 2003 next season, attracting new players and keeping stars such as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard will be much harder for Benitez. The sale of the club, which is being conducted by British Airways chairman Broughton and investment bank Barclays Capital, could take months, meaning even more uncertainty over how much money will be available to strengthen Liverpool's squad during the close season. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8660055.stm

The Independent 4 May 2010 A crisis that will haunt Liverpool for a generation By Ian Herbert, Deputy Football Correspondent Martin O'Neill's comments after Manchester City beat his side on Saturday and took a step towards the Champions League were as ominous for Liverpool as for Aston Villa. "Even if they don't make the Champions League, Manchester City will get stronger again and keeping up with them is going to be hard," he said. Liverpool can trade on their fans and their blue-chip reputation for only so long. If City win what is effectively a Champions League eliminator against Tottenham tomorrow, it will pave the way for a summer of spending that should render their place in the elite tournament a certainty for some years to come. Liverpool, meanwhile, face the risk of four, five seasons – a generation – without a place at the continent's top table. It is why the pursuit of a new owner this summer is an issue of far greater significance than the career intentions of Rafael Benitez. The club's managing director, Christian Purslow, thought he had found a way to stabilise the listing club: by securing a group of new equity partners whose money would keep the bank happy and smooth the way to capital needed to build a new stadium, which would send match-day revenues soaring. It is known as the "facility model" in football. The problem was the prospective new partners understandably wanted some say over how the club might be run, and the owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, would not tolerate that. They sent the club back to square one and hired non-executive chairman Martin Broughton and Barclays Capital to find someone to buy them out entirely. The Americans have a track record of demanding an unrealistic price for their club, though: the £500m Dubai International Capital was quoted a few years back is a case in point. But now the Americans' Armageddon is here. The merchant bankers who have been trying to sell Liverpool for months have insisted all along that investors would simply sit tight, wait until the club failed to qualify for next season's Champions League (thus taking a critical £20m hit), and make their bid when the Americans needed to sell in a hurry. That has happened now. Signs that the crown jewel, Fernando Torres, is unwilling to tolerate much more of this chaos might just be the tipping point that forces them to forgo the idea of a tasty profit, dispose of the club at a realistic price – £300m might be the best they'll get – and walk away. The consequences of clinging on are a haemorrhaging of players and years in the wilderness. The merits of a diplomatic stance with Benitez in the meantime are considerable, despite any irritation felt by the Anfield hierarchy at his use of a move to Juventus as a stick to beat the club with. With Benitez around, Torres might just be persuaded to stay a little longer, and Javier Mascherano might just sign a new contract. Without Benitez, neither of the above applies. The next manager might be one of O'Neill, under whom Aston Villa have barely advanced in the past three years, despite money; Roy Hodgson, whose only big job in England was at Blackburn, involved a £20m outlay in the summer of 1998 and his departure by Christmas of that year, with the club bottom of the table; or Kenny Dalglish, who hasn't managed for 12 years. If Liverpool really want an English manager then Mark Hughes, whose reputation is by no means diminished after his Manchester City experience, would be a good proposition if the Manchester United connection could be overcome. But would he want to walk into financial turmoil? Holding on to Benitez and finding a buyer and a place at the top table might not be such a forlorn hope. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/a-crisis-that-will-haunt-liverpool-for-a-generation-1961523.html

From Sky Sports website............. Gers braced for Bougherra bids Algerian wants future resolved before finals 3 May 2010 A host of club are ready to test Rangers' resolve over Madjid Bougherra before the World Cup, skysports.com understands. Liverpool are the latest club to join the hunt for the Algerian - who looks set to be sold by financially strapped Rangers in the summer. A host of English clubs, as well as teams from Spain and Germany, are looking at the 27-year-old - who has been with Rangers since 2008. Bougherra has already insisted he is more than happy at Ibrox, but The Gers look set to sell. And skysports.com understands that Bougherra's camp are keen for his future to be resolved before the World Cup finals. "I'm very happy here," said Bougherra at the SPL season awards on Sunday. "If I stay, I'm very happy and if I have to leave one day, that's life. "In both cases, I'm happy." World Cup Bougherra will miss the midweek Old Firm clash with Celtic as he looks ahead to the World Cup with Algeria. "It's better to have some games in the legs," he said. "But, at this stage, you have to be very careful about taking any risk because the job is done: we have won the title. "If you have something bad in your body, don't take a risk because the big thing is coming: the World Cup." Bougherra also hailed Walter Smith, who was crowned SPL Manager of the Year. "When I came to Rangers, my life changed," he said. "Everything is fantastic. I learned a mentality, I progressed. "I'm this player because Rangers gave me the opportunity. "He gives me the confidence that, on the pitch, I can do what I want. "Where I was before, some gaffers didn't want me to run. I need this to come into the game. "If I've done well this season, it is because he gave me this confidence." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6131548,00.html

The Independent 4 May 200 Benitez set deadline to accept Juventus deal Benayoun ready to join players' exodus as manager is told to sign £3.5m-a-year deal before end of week By Ian Herbert, Deputy Football Correspondent Rafael Benitez was coming under renewed pressure from Juventus to take or leave their job offer last night, and, with the Spaniard growing increasingly fearful of Fernando Torres' departure this summer, he wants assurances from the club's executive chairman that money generated from star players leaving will be his to invest. Though Benitez rejected Roberto Mancini's claims two weeks ago that Manchester City can afford the probably £50m-plus it would take to buy Torres, the Liverpool manager does seem to view that prospect as a genuine risk, with Liverpool reduced to Europa League football, and wants an imminent meeting with the club's executive chairman, Martin Broughton, to address it. "I would like to have a meeting with the chairman sooner rather than later to know his idea about the future," Benitez said last night, in a significant sign that his heart is on Merseyside if he can overcome his doubts. Benitez will also want to discuss with Broughton the Spaniard's own relationship with the club's managing director, Christian Purslow, as well as to know what realistic chances there are of a change of ownership to ease the financial gulf between the club and those in the European elite. Benitez is so in the dark about the running of the club, that he is still unsure who appointed Broughton and where the chairman sits in the chain of command. Benitez must weigh the answers he gets quickly, with Juve making it clear that they want a decision this week on the four-year contract worth £3.5m a year after tax which awaits him in Turin. Though Purslow insists that his relationship with Benitez is in good order, the feeling does not seem to be mutual. The odds still seem balanced against Benitez staying, given the growing sense yesterday that Liverpool's general state of chaos may see the club haemorrhage players this summer. In the aftermath of the 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea two of the club's best contributors over the past eight months hinted they expect departures and one of them, Yossi Benayoun, indicated that he might be ready to leave Anfield this summer. "It's very difficult to speak now about next season. We don't know what changes there will be – the players, the staff. So it's too early to speak," the 29-year-old said. "Liverpool is a great club and I enjoy it but a lot of things are happening in this moment and we will have to wait and see. I can't say much. [Rafa] brought me here and I'm grateful for this, but there are people who decide. I don't need to speak for Rafa because he's proved himself during his time here that he's a big manager. The people above will take the right decision for the club." The Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva reinforced the feeling of uncertainty. "Everyone is aware of the doubts over Rafa's future," he said. "We do not know what is going to happen or if some players will come and some will leave. We can only wait." It is unclear what stance Broughton will take with Benitez on the issue of reinvestment, given the continued uncertainty over a prospective new owner, the £20m loss in income which accrues from Liverpool's failure to qualify for the Champions League and Liverpool's apparent willingness to see the Spaniard go. The club will not sack Benitez but will not stand in his way if he decides that his future lies elsewhere, though there are suggestions that Liverpool's owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, are keen that the meeting Benitez has requested with Broughton should go ahead and that they, at least, have some desire to see him stay as the pursuit of a new investor continues. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitez-set-deadline-to-accept-juventus-deal-1961524.html

The Daiy Telegraph 4 May 2010 Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez wants pledge on transfer funds from new chairman By Rory Smith Rafael Benítez will seek reassurances that he retains the support of Liverpool’s board and that fresh investment to help strengthen his squad is likely to arrive in the coming months when he holds talks over his future with Martin Broughton, the club’s new chairman. Benítez does not yet know when he will sit down with Broughton, the chairman of British Airways appointed to the same position at the Premier League club last month, for a meeting that will most likely prove decisive in whether the Spaniard feels he can continue at Anfield, but hopes it is “sooner rather than later.” The Liverpool manager said: “I would like to meet with the chairman sooner rather than later to know his idea about the future. Still we are working hard and planning for the future. We have already signed [Jonjo] Shelvey from Charlton, trying to do the best for the club. “Liverpool is a massive name in England and, again, in Europe. Everybody knows about the history of the club and the fans, so we can still attract players to improve the squad.” Benítez’s meeting with Broughton, though, will go a long way to defining who is in charge of that recruitment drive and establishing to what extent the club have the money to fund it. Juventus remain confident of appointing Benítez as their next manager after preparing a four-year deal worth around £3.5 million a season to attract the Spaniard. The Serie A side, who will compete with Liverpool in next season’s Europa League, have set aside £60 million a season for the next three years in a bid to tempt Benítez to Italy. Contrary to reports in Italy, they have not set the Liverpool manager a deadline to accept their proposal. That offer will become significantly more appealing to Benítez should Broughton, appointed to oversee the sale of the club and end the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, fail to assuage the Spaniard’s concerns over Liverpool’s future. Benítez has made clear there are “many” questions he hopes Broughton can answer, not least those surrounding how quickly the club is likely to find the penury forced upon them by Hicks and Gillett coming at an end and precisely who is in control of a club £237 million in debt to the Royal Bank of Scotland. It would also be understandable should Benítez enquire of Broughton whether, should several of Liverpool’s most valuable assets – including Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano – choose to leave this summer, he would be granted the funds to reinvest in his squad. Torres has made no secret of his affection for Liverpool, but he has increasingly expressed concerns over the club’s direction and it is believed he is prepared to consider a move away, with Manchester City and Chelsea both confirmed long-term admirers. Barcelona, another possible destination, are understood to have struck a verbal agreement for his Spain team-mate David Villa, indicating their priorities lie elsewhere, though they may yet return this summer with a firm bid for Mascherano. Internazionale, though, would rival both Premier League sides for his and Steven Gerrard’s signatures after officials from the Italian side confirmed on Sunday they would be interested in both players. There were reports in Italy on Sunday night that Torres had been seen in Inter’s Barcelona hotel prior to their Champions League semi-final. After last summer’s chaos, though, when money Benítez believed was set aside for transfers was instead swallowed by extending the contracts of Gerrard, Torres, Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt and the manager himself, Benítez is believed to want an indication that whatever funds are raised this summer, there will be no repeat. Should Broughton be unable to assuage Benítez’s fears, the Spaniard is thought to be resigned to the prospect of ending his reign at a club he does not wish to leave. Liverpool’s finances preclude the possibility of dismissing him, though it is believed the club would not stand in his way should he choose to leave, while sources at Anfield have not ruled out the possibility of appointing a short-term caretaker to take the club through the summer. The club’s players know, meanwhile, they have little choice but to wait and see what happens to their manager and themselves. “It is difficult to speak about next season,” said the midfielder Yossi Benayoun. “We do not know what changes there will be with players or staff. I do not know whether I will be here or not. “A club like Liverpool must do everything they can to keep players like Stevie and Fernando but a lot of things can change. In a few weeks we will know better.” Managers in the frame? Roy Hodgson The Fulham manager’s excellent campaign has made him a favourite. English, able to work on a budget and tactically aware enough to succeed in Europe, though his woeful away record counts against him. Odds: 12-1 Martin O’Neill Linked with the vacancy which Benítez eventually filled, the Aston Villa manager is expected to depart at the end of the season. 5-1 Jose Mourinho The dream candidate for some, the nightmare for others. Still unpopular on Merseyside from his time at Chelsea, but a proven winner. Tends not to join financially-troubled clubs. 5-2 Fabio Capello The England manager is committed to the national team until 2012, but a successful World Cup may be enough to tempt him to have one last crack at a club job. 25-1 Kenny Dalglish A forerunner should Liverpool appoint an initial caretaker and the romantic choice to steady the ship. 9-4 Odds supplied by William Hill http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/7674728/Liverpool-manager-Rafael-Benitez-wants-pledge-on-transfer-funds-from-new-chairman.html

The Bolton News 3 May 2010 Big deal may tempt Cahill GARY Cahill has admitted for the first time that he would leave the Reebok this summer if the right offer came along. A string of top clubs are said to be monitoring the 24-year-old defender, who still harbours hope of making England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup. And while he promised that he would not seek to engineer a move away from the club who took him from Aston Villa as an untested Premier League player, he accepts it would be difficult to turn down a chance to further his ambitions. “If a big team wanted me to come and play for them, then you have got to be realistic and look at the fact it may be a right decision for both sides,” he said. “I’m not saying for one minute I want to leave the club. I have loved my time here and the club has done brilliantly for me. “I love all the staff and the players. But every player is ambitious and if a chance came to play for a top four team then I am sure, like most players, you would take it with both hands.” Owen Coyle stoked the fires of speculation this week by saying he would not stand in Cahill’s way if a top club were willing to pay the right price for his defensive talisman. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been linked with his signature since January, although a blood clot that caused the centre-half to miss 11 games in the New Year has checked his progress in the meantime. Cahill accepts he owes a debt to Wanderers, who saw him through that ordeal, and while the club would appear to be open to offers, he insists he will stay focussed on his role at the Reebok. “The club will have its own agenda but I have ambitions to go as far as I can in my career,” he said. “Not for one minute am I saying I want to leave and I have loved my time here. I am settled “The manager is understanding that probably any of our players had a chance to maybe to better their careers, I think that’s nice he wouldn’t stand in their way. “Like I said, the club has been outstanding for me and I firmly believe I have become a better player. “Who knows? It’s a big window and there is a lot of business done. If I stay, I won’t for one bit be unhappy. “It’s been spoken about that I am the club’s most valuable asset but until a team comes and puts money on the table, I am going to be a Bolton player.” Cahill’s next target will be to earn a place in Fabio Capello’s preliminary 30-man squad that will travel to a fitness camp in Austria next month to prepare for the tournament. After a recent dip in form, it was back to business as usual on Saturday for the Whites star, who put in an effective performance in the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham. “Maybe, looking at it honestly, it’s a big ask,” he said. “But I am pushing and striving to get myself in that long squad of 30 that goes to Austria. “I think that's my main aim now. If it happens, that will be brilliant for me, If it doesn’t I will keep plugging away until it does.” http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/wanderersnews/8133037.Big_deal_may_tempt_Cahill/

The Independent 3 May 2010 Benitez refuses to give a straight answer after letting 'speculation' run By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent Rafael Benitez would give Liverpool fans no assurances last night that he would still be at the club next season as the saga over the manager's future descended into farce at Anfield yesterday. Benitez walked out of an interview with Sky Sports and then refused to confirm that he would be at Liverpool next season despite being asked Jeremy Paxman-style on six different occasions to end the uncertainty over his future in his post-match press conference. Benitez kept referring to the reports that he will join Juventus this summer as "speculation" despite the fact that it was him who keeps making public his rift with the club's hierarchy. The Liverpool manager did at least confirm that he will speak to the club's new chairman Martin Broughton this week for the first time. Benitez said: "I have four years left on my contract and I still have to talk with the new chairman. Nothing is clear cut, we have to wait. It is not just for me to ask one or two questions. If we have a conversation we will try to keep it private. It is just to talk about the future. You are asking about my future, but the future of the club is more important." The 2-0 defeat to Chelsea was Liverpool's 11th defeat in the Premier League and set the scene for a miserable post-match lap round the pitch by players, staff and some of their children. For the absentee American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks there was nothing but scorn; for Benitez there was neither overwhelming support or condemnation. Later Benitez acknowledged that Liverpool, now seventh and out the running for the Champions League places, had failed to fulfill expectations after their second-place finish last season. He said: "It's clear it hasn't been the best season. Everyone was expecting us to be at the top, but we've had too many problems. We were in the semi-final of the Europa League on Thursday, and then played [yesterday] in a difficult game. Always the manager has taken responsibility for everything in the last three years. [The game against Chelsea] was similar to lots of game when we have had problems." If the £16m, four-year deal from Juventus's new president Andrea Agnelli is to materialise then Benitez will have to weigh up the options of managing a side who, like Liverpool, will not be competing in the Champions League next season. Juventus' draw with Catania yesterday means that they cannot catch Sampdoria in fourth place in Serie A. Having lit the fuse last week by admitting that the Liverpool hierarchy had made no effort to speak to him about his future – principally because they would not stand in his way if he went to Juventus – Benitez yesterday employed his familiar tactic of professing surprise at the ensuing storm he has caused. He said: "I've heard all the speculation over the last two or three weeks and read a lot of news about a lot of things, but at the moment we have another game to play. I have four more years on my contract so I will not talk too much at the moment. "We have to be disappointed that we haven't won because we cannot be as close as we want to be to the top four. I will prepare for the next game [against Hull on Sunday] and then start thinking of things for the future. I have read a lot of things in the past." In accepting that it was the manager's responsibility "for everything in the last three years" there was the suggestion that Benitez was being ironic and referring to the damage that Hicks and Gillett's years in charge have caused. His meeting with Broughton will be crucial to how quickly events move, but it is evident that a decision will have to be made on Benitez's future soon. Who might replace Rafa? Martin O'Neill Said the Liverpool position would probably appeal. But the Aston Villa manager's defensive outlook will raise questions. Roy Hodgson With rumours that Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard favour an English manager, Hodgson's achievements at Fulham make him another contender. Mark Hughes The Manchester United connection may prove to be a deal-breaker but the prospect might intrigue Hughes. Jose Mourinho Has asked his representatives to canvas offers and Real Madrid seems the strongest possibility. A financially uncertain Liverpool look like a poorer option. Kenny Dalglish Is very close to the club's managing director Christian Purslow. But it is 12 years since he was sacked by Newcastle. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/benitez-refuses-to-give-a-straight-answer-after-letting-speculation-run-1960898.html

Roy Hodgson has commented on the speculation linking him with other jobs................ "I am happy here at Fulham," he said. "I have got a contract here at Fulham. I am happy with the job I am doing. "My name is sufficiently strong at the moment to be linked with other jobs and, of course, that is flattering and it is nice to hear. "But as far as I am concerned it is speculation because I am at Fulham. "We all prefer praise to criticism and love to hatred. It would be ludicrous to suggest I am not enjoying people saying and writing nice things about me and the team. "But I am trying to keep a level head and keep things in perspective." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6130205,00.html

The Sunday Times ay 2, 2010 As Juventus lurk, Rafael Benitez tells fans why he has to go Liverpool boss says the job is no longer what he signed up for Jonathan Northcroft GENERAL CUSTER, in his last stand, was ambushed by overwhelming forces. Rafael Benitez might perceive a similar scenario when he barrels to the dugout at Anfield today for what is likely to be his last stand at a stadium where he has given wing to so many dreams. Benitez’s Liverpool were never so convincing away from Anfield, but inside their fortress were capable of anything: miracle comebacks, thumpings of Real Madrid, humblings of Manchester United, derby wins and the slaying — not once, but twice in Champions League semi-finals — of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. Benitez sparked belief he could make Liverpool great again. Plenty of fans still believe in him. If he waves to the Kop today, the reaction will be emotional. Benitez does not know for sure he is going. Juventus are all but certain he will be their manager next season but Benitez, entitled to a £16m payoff if sacked, will not leave Liverpool voluntarily. While discussions have taken place to broker a deal in which Juve would compensate both Benitez and his current club for a move from Anfield, nothing is finalised. Benitez’s family are reluctant to leave a happy life in Wirral but the chances of them staying there have dwindled severely. After Liverpool’s Europa League exit against Atletico Madrid, Benitez said “the conditions have changed”, when asked his future. He meant the conditions, in terms of transfer budget and his place in Liverpool’s command chain, that led him to sign a five-year contract in March 2009. His words appeared to be a direct, this-is-why-I-have-to-go message to fans and seemed to make his position untenable, given their implicit criticism of Liverpool’s owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and the club’s managing director, Christian Purslow. Benitez might feel like Custer because he sees opponents massing against him. The Premier League’s leaders and most potent attacking unit are about to assail him on the pitch. Off it, relations have broken down between himself and Hicks and Gillett while Purslow, once an ally, is now regarded with suspicion. Martin Broughton, appointed chairman 16 days ago, has not even spoken to the manager. Liverpool’s hierarchy, for their part, are weary of the flirtations with other clubs that have been a feature of the Spaniard’s reign. Benitez is scheduled to meet Purslow to discuss his future after Liverpool’s final match of the campaign, away to Hull next Sunday; if he ever gets as far as that meeting, it is unlikely to be a comfortable one. “I decided to sign an extension because the squad was good and the money could be there. At the end, things changed. We’ve had a bad season and hopefully things will be different in the future, but at the moment I can’t talk about the future because I don’t know what’s going on,” Benitez said. When asked why he now feels insecure in his workplace, given the length of his contract and £5m salary it provides, he replied: “It’s not a question of money. I said no to massive offers. In terms of everything I decided to stay under some conditions which have changed.” He was then asked if promises had been broken. “The conditions have changed,” Benitez said. Finally the notion was raised that he left Valencia because working there became too difficult. Benitez’s pointed answer was: “I left Valencia because the conditions had changed.” Andrea Agnelli, the new Juventus president, is a mover behind his club’s bid for Benitez and is extremely confident of getting his man. Juve’s position is strengthened because Real Madrid, who Benitez may have hoped would approach him, are determined to hire Mourinho. AC Milan are about to dispense with Leonardo and, given Arrigo Sacchi’s Rossoneri side were one of his biggest inspirations, it is likely the Milan job would interest Benitez, but to take him to the San Siro Milan would have to move fast. Agnelli has promised an €80m (£70m) transfer spree. Should Mourinho leave Inter Milan, Serie A would look highly winnable to any coach of a reinvigorated Juve. The candidates Liverpool could turn to if seeking Benitez’s replacement would depend on budget and the ownership of the club. What either will be next season is unclear. Broughton was appointed to find someone to buy out Hicks and Gillett. The rumours are continual — the latest involved a supposed consortium of Chinese casino magnates — but City analysts say a takeover is not close. If Liverpool must try to appoint a new manager under present conditions, they would have to target bosses who can achieve success on a moderate outlay and are mature enough to get on with their job in awkward conditions. Roy Hodgson and Martin O’Neill fit that bill best but the dreadful question for Anfielders is whether taking over Liverpool would be enough of an opportunity to make either man leave improving teams at Fulham and Aston Villa. It is ironic that Benitez’s last Anfield appearance might come in a game where his dugout adversary is the man he defeated to win the Champions League in Istanbul. Even a question about Carlo Ancelotti drew a pointed answer. “He’s doing well but it depends on the players. After spending big money Chelsea built a good team with Ranieri and Mourinho, and those players are still there to allow them to compete,” Benitez said. “I don’t know what will happen on Sunday, except we will try to win.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article7114252.ece

From today's Mirror............... Benitez accuses Liverpool owners of breaking promises about transfer funds By Simon Mullock Rafa Benitez last night surveyed the broken promises and shattered dreams of his Liverpool reign – and insisted he can walk away from Anfield with his conscience clear. The 50-year-old, who quit Valencia six years ago to take charge of the Merseyside ­giants after fighting a running battle with directors at the Mestalla Stadium, gave his biggest hint yet that history is about to repeat itself. Benitez, who is only 13 months into a five-year contract worth £20million, seems certain to accept an offer from Juventus. And he has laid the blame for his departure on Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Benitez says the Americans, who are currently trying to find a buyer for a club crippled by debts of £237million, have gone back on promises about transfer cash. Hicks and Gillett have also failed to deliver a new stadium which would enable Liverpool to compete financially with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester CityAnd all of Benitez’s attempts to discover whether he will be forced to cash in on top players like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have met with silence. A clearly emotional Benitez said: “For sure, it is a privilege to be manager of Liverpool because it is a massive club and the fans have been fantastic to me every single day. “I am proud to be here. But when I signed a contract ­extension last year, it was because the squad was good and I was told the money would be there. “In the end, things changed. We have had a bad season ­because the conditions of my job changed. “Hopefully things will be different in the future, but at the moment I can’t talk about the future because I don’t know what is going on here. “Remember, I left Valencia because the conditions at the club changed. The conditions here have also changed.” Juventus are ready to improve on the salary Benitez earns at Anfield – and are prepared to pay him a £5million signing-on fee to offset some of the £16m pay-off he would be due if Liverpool axed him after a season of underachievement. Liverpool go into today’s game against Chelsea trailing the table-topping Londoners by 18 points. An early exit from the Champions League has been followed by a Europa Cup semi-final defeat by Atletico Madrid. Benitez said: “It isn’t a question of money for me. I have said no to some massive offers in the past to stay at Liverpool. I decided to stay here under certain conditions. Those­ conditions have changed. “I know how the players feel because I’ve been talking to them all season. We share the same frustrations. “The ownership issue is not an excuse. The season has not been good and we all know why. We know what has to change. “I would like to say more, but for me the only thing I can think of for the future is the Chelsea game.” He added: “Because of the history of Liverpool, everyone expects us to be at the top all of the time. But the real situation is that we are competing under different conditions because of the situation with money and the stadium. “You can push for a while, but you can’t keep on pushing and closing the gap. If we do everything to perfection then maybe this club could challenge. “But if United, Chelsea and Arsenal also do everything perfectly then it becomes very difficult because of the situation this club is in. “It is a big difference. You only have to look at the players we had on the bench against Atletico to see that.” http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Rafa-Benitez-edges-closer-to-Liverpool-exit-door-after-accusing-the-club-s-owners-of-breaking-promises-about-transfer-funds-article412297.html

Rafa's post-match interview with the BBC sounded more like he was staying to me The Sky one less so Rafa's post-match Sky interview

Articles about Rafa's future in most of the papers this morning Apart from the articles in the Times & the Telegraph that have already been posted there are articles in the Guardian, the Independent & the Mirror The Mirror reckons Juve will make an official approach for Rafa if we lose to Chelsea, so things could become clearer next week

BBC website Friday, 30 April 2010 Liverpool coach Borrell says academy 'was unacceptable' By Sam Sheringham Liverpool youth coach Rodolfo Borrell has revealed how surprised he was by the poor quality of the club's academy when he arrived at the club in 2009. Borrell, who came with Jose Segura from Barcelona, believes it could take another two years before a player breaks through into the first team. "The reality of what we found here was unacceptable," Borrell told BBC Sport. The likes of Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen all came through the Liverpool ranks. But since that crop of talented youngsters, the Liverpool academy has struggled to develop a regular supply of players ready for the demands of the Premier League and European football. Striker Neil Mellor featured intermittently under Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez before being released to Preston, while full-back Stephen Warnock has gone on to play for England since leaving the Reds for Blackburn and then Aston Villa. This season, Jay Spearing, Martin Kelly and Daniel Pacheco have been limited to occasional forays off the bench. Benitez - who has signed highly rated Charlton midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, 18, and 15-year-old England youth international Raheem Sterling from QPR recently - says the club have a long-term plan to bring "British players with passion" to the club. "(We want) players who you can feel what playing for Liverpool means to them," said Benitez, "Shelvey is one of these and we have two or three names ready so we will try to do the best for the club. "I was trying to sign Gareth Barry before and Glen Johnson was the same idea - we have this long-term plan in place and we will try to follow the plan." Benitez has expressed his frustration at the lack of talent coming through and moves to restructure the youth structure began when former Liverpool winger Steve Heighway stepped down as academy coach in April 2007. The club created a new position of academy technical manager, a post initially taken by former Ajax player Piet Hamberg before he was replaced by Segura in May 2009. Borrell, who joined at the same time to coach the under-18s, said they have been working hard to introduce the practices that functioned to great effect at Barcelona's academy, which produced seven of the team who beat Manchester United in last year's Champions League final. "The under-18s had no centre forward, no balance. They had no tactical level, no understanding of the game," said Borrell, who spent 13 years at Barcelona, where he worked with Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi. "We are working hard, but you can't change things overnight. "I think we have made a lot of progress over eight months, but we need to improve a lot more to get more players into the first team. "I think if we keep working hard maybe in two years somebody can appear in the first team." Liverpool's academy features players from Hungary, Iceland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Australia, but Borrell says the priority is to produce English players. "When I arrived the first thing Rafa told me was that the biggest interest is to try to develop English players," he said. "I agree - the best players to defend the Barca shirt are Catalan players, the best players to defend the Liverpool shirt are English players. "The rest of the players who are not English, they must be massive, massive quality. "We have to fight to make English players arrive. If in two or three years one of our players does make the first team, I think he will be English." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8611991.stm

The Times April 24, 2010 Chelsea pull out of race to sign Liverpool’s Spain striker Fernando Torres Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent Chelsea have conceded defeat in the race to sign Fernando Torres because they refuse to compete with Manchester City’s vast spending. The West London club were preparing a move for Torres, whose future is uncertain given Liverpool’s troubled season. But in another sign of a power shift in the English game, Chelsea will be forced to look at the cheaper option of Sergio Agüero, the Atlético Madrid forward. City are preparing an opening bid in the region of £50-£60 million for Torres, but are ready to go much higher to sign a world-class player to give credibility to their ambitions. Chelsea were in a similar situation after Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003, although they are now moving towards self-funding after years of free spending, a change that Carlo Ancelotti alluded to yesterday. Torres would prefer to sign for Chelsea than City, because he is sceptical about their grand plans and wary of joining another club in the North West. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article7106665.ece

The Independent Wednesday 28 April 2010 Benitez free to pursue potential Juve move By Sam Wallace and Mark Fleming The attitude of the Liverpool hierarchy towards Rafael Benitez is that they will not stand in his way if the well-trailed offer from Juventus is finally put to their Spanish manager, but both parties regard that situation as still a long way off. The pressure has been building this week, with more leaks from Italy suggesting that Benitez, who has four years left to run on his Liverpool contract, will be the subject of a £16m, four-year deal from the Italian club. While the Italians are not yet near to putting a formal request to Liverpool there is the sense that the move will speed up over the next few weeks. Senior figures at Liverpool have indicated that – unlike in the past when Benitez has parlayed his popularity with the fans into improved contracts and greater influence at the club – this will not be the case should Juventus's offer turn out to be genuine. Benitez was in a much stronger position in March last year when he signed his existing deal at Liverpool – a four-year extension to 2014. With the club's American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks desperate to keep some semblance of stability to attract potential buyers, Benitez was regarded as untouchable 11 months ago. His agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, is considered by the club as a prime mover in the attempts to broker an agreement with Juventus, although not everyone in English football is really convinced that they have the resources to complete the deal. It is likely that there will be some interest from Real Madrid in Benitez this summer, although the Juventus president, Jean-Claude Blanc, would push for a quick answer should the club put together an acceptable deal. Benitez is still planning for next season with Liverpool, having expressed an interest in Rafael van der Vaart of Real Madrid. The 18-year-old Charlton midfielder Jonjo Shelvey also had a medical at the club yesterday before a possible £1.7m move to Anfield. Shelvey first came to prominence during the Addicks unsuccessful fight against relegation from the Championship last season and last summer was reported to have turned down a move to Chelsea. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitez-free-to-pursue-potential-juve-move-1956009.html

Shelvey rejected a £3.5m move to Chelsea when he was 17 according to the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/28/liverpool-jonjo-shelvey-charlton Oliver Kay in the Times reckons we are "in advanced discussions over Danny Wilson, the highly rated 18-year-old Rangers central defender, and are expected to proceed with the deal they have agreed to sign Milan Jovanovic, the Serbia forward, on a free transfer when his contract with Standard Liège expires at the end of June." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article7110052.ece

Apparently another Italian paper La Stampa is saying today that Man City want Rafa & if they get him, Mancini could go to Juve http://www.footylatest.com/man-city-want-benitez-to-replace-mancini/13893

Aquilani