MARK LAWRENSON: Behind-the-scenes shambles can only distract Benitez

Apr 15 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Rafa Benitez

RAFAEL BENITEZ should have been sat in the Anfield press room on Sunday with a huge grin on his face.

Another win to all but secure fourth place just days after taking his team to another Champions League semi-final.

But instead he sat there knowing he is in charge of a club that is an absolute joke.

One that he looks ready to walk away from in the summer with nothing more than a quick “Stuff you lot, I’m off.”

And could anybody blame him?

Things were bad before this week’s latest shambles. Rafa was already stuck in the middle of a couple waiting to get their divorce sorted out, with a chief executive who didn’t know where to hang his hat, making communication with the manager impossible.

But the big problem now is, if ever Benitez thought he had an ally in Rick Parry, these revelations over the Jurgen Klinsmann meeting leaves him in serious doubts about who he can trust.

So at the time when he should be concentrating on how well his team are playing and trying to get to another European Cup final, he’s wasting time running round looking for answers and seeking clarification on his position.

When things were done behind his back at Valencia, it was: “See you, I’m gone.”

He’s in danger of doing the same now because, let’s face it, how many managers don’t know who they can speak to discuss transfer targets for next season? It’s a complete and utter mess.

There’s so much division at the top at Liverpool now that the playing side will only suffer in the long run, so much so that you can see the likes of Gerrard and Torres getting fed up with it and jumping ship as well.

And therein lies the real issue.

Liverpool Football Club can’t be allowed to become the big loser in all of this so things need sorting out quickly.

At the moment it’s some embarrassing playground spat. ‘He said this to me first, he was calling me names, etc’. Just knock all that childish nonsense on the head and get on with it.

All parties need to sit round a table, talk things through and sort it all out.

No more statements on websites, no more letters demanding this or that and making all kinds of accusations.

Just get in a room and if you all decide you can’t work together then find a solution to stop this conflict raging on.

It needs to be done right now because at the moment nobody knows who is in charge, who is backing who or – and this is what will really be concerning Benitez above anything else – what is happening next season.

A one-eyed man on a galloping horse can see that the football side is the most important thing so the best way forward in that area has to be worked out.

Yes, there will be casualties along the way – but that is the reality of any war.

Now  have your say - check out our new banter site - click here