New twist adds to doubts over Rafa Benitez's future

Jan 12 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

FRESH doubts have emerged over Rafael Benitez’s long-term Liverpool future after it was claimed yesterday that Jurgen Klinsmann had been offered the manager’s job at Anfield.

Klinsmann ended weeks of speculation by agreeing to replace the departing Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld at the end of the season. And sources in Germany state the former Tottenham Hotspur striker rejected the chance to take over from Benitez in the summer before opting to join the Bundesliga side.

Liverpool, who released an official denial when linked with Fabio Capello last month, yesterday refused to comment on the speculation.

At a Press conference to announce his move to Bayern, Klinsmann denied any firm interest from a Premier League club.

“I did not have any offers from England,” said the German, who had been out of football since guiding Germany to the World Cup semi-finals 18 months ago.

“Bayern is the number one club in this country and I had a lot of other options, but this was by far the best offer.”

But high-level insiders at Bayern say they believe Klinsmann was considering a detailed proposal from Liverpool’s American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The German, who is based in California, has forged a friendship with Gillett after his sports consultancy company did some work for the American.

The emergence of those links are thought to have contributed to Benitez’s manner during the infamous Press briefing at the end of November that lifted the lid on the discord behind the scenes at Anfield.

That almost led to the Spaniard’s immediate dismissal. Relations between the two parties have since improved, but yesterday’s claims seemingly place Benitez in a precarious position once again, especially as Gillett and Hicks continue to refuse to offer their public unequivocal backing of the manager.

Benitez, though, retains an unshakeable faith in his own ability to continue bringing success to Anfield having already won the Champions League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup since arriving in the summer of 2004.

Asked about the continued speculation, he said yesterday: “I’ve been managing for 21 years now. I know for a manager I am young but 21 years is enough experience to have. I do not have any problem with my ability or any doubt about the quality of the squad. You can’t control everything. If I can prepare the team properly for Middlesbrough and Luton and we keep winning, each week it will be easier to find an answer to this question.”

Benitez added: “I have a lot of experience in football. You must try your best in every game. I’m not happy when we finish fourth. I want to finish first. I spent 20 years at Real Madrid and to finish second there was a disaster, so I always want to win. Every time I lose, I’m always wondering why. Always analysing. It’s been the same for all my three-and-a-half years here.

“How can you find a solution? By working harder and better. That’s the only way I know.”

Liverpool’s American owners were confident enough in Benitez’s judgement to sanction the £6million signing of Martin Skrtel from Zenit St Petersburg, which was completed yesterday.

The 23-year-old Slovakia international has become the most expensive defender in the club’s history, and Benitez believes his arrival is a further indication of the progress being made by his team.

“Martin is a centre-back that we needed,” said Benitez. “He is 23 and is a player for the present and the future.

“You know our plan to build for the future. Agger, Reina, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Torres, players that can play three or four years for us without any problems. They will have experience in the Premier League and at this club, so I believe the plan is continuing. I think that we are improv-ing and everyone is moving in the right direction.”

A lack of match practice means Skrtel won’t be considered for a debut at Middlesbrough today.

However, fellow centre-back Daniel Agger is in the squad for the first time since breaking a metatarsal in September, while Steven Gerrard and Alvaro Arbeloa have recovered from injury and are available. Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) is out.