LIVERPOOL FACE RAFA REBELLION
Top players will quit if manager is forced out
RAFA BENITEZ will have three millions reasons to cast an envious glance across the ten yards of no-man's land at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
Sitting there will be Luiz Felipe Scolari, a coach with two months of Premier League experience but who earns almost double Rafa's wage.
But the rumblings generated by the Benitez contract situation are not just about a rich man wanting to get richer.
They are threatening the stability of a team that finally looks capable of mounting a serious title challenge.
Sport of the World understands that unless the Spaniard's long-term future is secured soon, Liverpool run the risk of losing up to SIX of their frontline stars - including the irreplaceable Fernando Torres.
An Anfield insider told us: "The manager wants to stay for a long, long time and has made that clear. But there has been no movement on a new contract despite one of the owners saying it was a priority earlier this year.
"That has set the alarm bells ringing with Rafa. At this stage of his career, he wants to plan for the future. There has already been massive interest in him from Spain and Italy.
"But the crucial thing for Liverpool is that around half a dozen players see their future as being tied in with Rafa's. There would be a rebellion if Benitez had to leave."
Leading that rebellion would be fellow Spaniards Torres and Pepe Reina - backed up by Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano, Martin Skrtel and new boy Albert Riera.
With progress in the Champions League relatively smooth and the Premier League top spot beckoning if they can upset Chelsea today, another conflict behind the scenes is the last thing Liverpool need.
But that is what they are heading for.
Benitez insists that his desire for an extended deal is borne out of a need to lay plans that will see the team flourish well into the next decade.
But his freefall down the manager's pay table cannot have escaped his attention.
As Liverpool cement their place amongst the Big Four, Benitez is now treading water in the financial mid-division alongside the likes of David Moyes, Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes and Roy Keane.
Even Kevin Keegan - before his stomp away from St James Park - was collecting more than the man who has a Champions League success on his considerable CV.
Benitez earns a flat-rate of £3.5million a year. Hardly on the breadline but at least three million below Scolari's annual remuneration.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both boast a seven-figure advantage over their rival while Hughes, Keane and Redknapp are in the same ballpark.
And across Stanley Park, Moyes has just put his signature to a £65,000-a-week package that leaves him only a round of drinks below his Merseyside foe.
Benitez can fatten his wage packet by winning trophies - £1million for Champions League glory, £750,000 if he can end Liverpool's 19-year wait for domestic bragging rights.
But he has now fallen out of the elite bracket ... in economic terms.
I understand Benitez has already snubbed the chance to join any one of three Spanish clubs and three Italian clubs.
One of the La Liga suitors were Real Madrid, whose current manager Bernd Schuster has not yet been offered an extension to a contract that expires next summer.
Questions
Juventus are believed to be leading the Serie A interest.
And having seen his old enemy Jose Mourinho secure a staggering £7million-a-year agreement with Inter, Benitez will be well aware of the earning opportunities in Italy.
Which is why the hesitancy of the Anfield board to offer him a revised contract has mystified many at the club.
Chief executive Rick Parry - a close ally of co-owner George Gillett - has brushed aside questions on the subject.
But Tom Hicks, who called for Parry to quit towards the end of last season, said several months ago that the long-term future of Benitez should be tied up as a matter of urgency.
With Parry and Gillet still in position, that seems to be easier said than done.
And with the credit crunch squeezing the American owners - the new stadium on hold and looking an increasingly endangered venture - there is increasing pressure on Liverpool's finances.
Contract
There were claims last week that the profits from Liverpool's on-pitch success were all being used to pay off interest on the huge loans taken out by Gillett and Hicks.
The club may even be forced to have a freeze on signing players in the next couple of transfer windows.
But the ramifications of stalling over the Benitez deal are serious.
Benitez has developed strong relationships with key players and his departure would prompt a mutiny.
Among those who would question their own futures at the club would be key senior players such as Reina, Kuyt and Mascherano.
But most signinficant of all would be Torres who is positioning himself alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the most sought-after player in world football.
Vultures
Torres has over four years to run on his contract so there appears to be no need for urgency in getting him to the negotiating table.
But he wants those four years to be under his countryman and any hint of that arrangement being unsettled and the 23-year-old's head might well be turned by the interest that is bound to erupt in next summer's transfer window.
And every big club knows how difficult it is to keep an unhappy player.
Liverpool, of course, could play a game of brinksmanship with Benitez.
His contract does not expire until June 2010 and, with money ultra-tight, the likes of Parry and Gillett might be loathe to almost double his deal more than 18 months before the current one expires.
But that would have the Spanish and Italian vultures circling ... and Benitez would not be their only big-name target.
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This article has 48 comments
just let rafa do the talking.... he's switching all the time to make proper team players that gel like they've been playing 90mins in every game..... ThErEs A mEtHoD tO hIs MaDnEsS.....??
By jefffro. Posted October 27 2008 at 5:24 PM.
yeah but chelsea av also brought shevshenko mutu crespo malouda and man u got hargraves carick saha poor worse signings dan liverpool an cost more 2 so less of the liverpool buy worse crap rafa is a great manger and it takes 5 years 2 build a great team an we av finaly dun it were a match 2 all the others now great players shine out of liverpool now gerrard kuyt alonso maschrano carrerger agger skrtel reina reirra der as gud as any1s spine in the world we will be marchin home wid the title dis year wooo
By ironleee. Posted October 27 2008 at 4:20 PM.
stan the fan, those same avarage players you are talking about hammered Chelski yesterday. Lol!
By Andre. Posted October 27 2008 at 9:17 AM.
Its good, attracted and very interesting story.
Keep it up you guys
By charles mganga. Posted October 27 2008 at 8:55 AM.
Yes well said Keith Maynard, Chelsea really showed Liverpool up didn't they. LOL. Also you are SO right, Liverpool will be under attack for the last Champions League place... if only they hadn't scored 7 points from 3 games!! Keith, grow a brain. You also mention 'soon injuries' etc... I know exactly what you mean. With Torres injured at the moment, Liverpool look all out of sorts... without him they completely suck. LOL!!! YNWA
By Stephen Schulz. Posted October 27 2008 at 8:26 AM.
On the comment of the beautiful game being called Soccer, the full name is Association Football, being shortened to Soccer, as is Rugby Football, being shortened to Rugby, and it goes on and on. Living in the States, as an ex-pat and watching the games over here. I'm really surprised with the dissing that Rafa has been getting. Let the man do what he's been doing. Liverpool will never walk alone with the support they have from the fans. Winning isn't everything, it's the taking part that counts.
By Steven Rea. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:21 PM.
If Rafa leaves, not only other Spaniards will follow, it will break the team aparts. Even the loyal Steven G and Cara will leave, at least to Everton.
By abeleekelate. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:21 PM.
top of league,unbeaten,there should be no question of rafa,s future just what do people want !
By stephen grey. Posted October 26 2008 at 4:51 PM.
I tire of people like Rafa whining about not getting what the next man gets. Perhaps they should hire a few more managers and play them in his rotation system. Or they could let him go, would anyone notice?
By ian lips. Posted October 26 2008 at 2:56 PM.
I think Rafa has gone a wonderful job since joining the mighty reds, we need to keep him and all of our players. Get the yanks out! thats what we need to do then we can go on to achive greater things than any club in the world, while we have them in charge then we are always going to be lacking in some area, we need owners who want the club and love the club like the supporters do ! Rafa and co rule, LFC RULE !
By Chris. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:51 PM.
some people seem to have very short memories what rafa has achived at the club is second to none ,i bet arsenal fans would love to have what we have achived since rafa arrived ,as for spending lots of money utter ******** if anybody read the paul tonkinson article a few week ago on lfc website you may just realise what rafa has done in the transfer market over the years like this year selling riise, crouch ,carson to buy keane , the players rafa has sold over the years hava made a profit on many of them , so lay off the guy rafa is so imporant to the club remember he dosen,t have open cheque book like manure and chelsk .
By stephen grey. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:47 PM.
rafa has brought Liverpool ten years in the space of five . Let's not forget houllier . We yearned for fourth and the uefa cup under rafa we dream almost expect the title and champions league . This in the hardest era of all the supersquads era. Chealsea and man utd huge spending power the challenge. His mistakes have been minimal.how rafa was criticized when he rotated against burnley in the fa cup an lost to only win the European cup with a team of misfits . People have short memories. Rafa has made us proud again and will never walk alone . I'll start supporting hull if he walks out . Dic SOS .
By zinc Grantham. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:45 PM.
Well I think it's a shame that these players put the manager's interests before the clubs'. They shouldn't have bothered signing in the first place, mercenaries!!!!
By ian lips. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:44 PM.
I thought it was called Soccer,I mean you have Rugby football American football and oz football,so what is wrong with calling it soccer after all that is the correct term,Gary Sanderson
By michael campbell. Posted October 26 2008 at 1:03 PM.
Keith
I was in Istanbul and i think you forgot the substitution rafa made by bringing Didi Hamman on he had a massive influence on thew second half, we were still playing one of the best sides in europe, AC MILAN. rafa have also won the fa cup carling cup, super cup so the only trophey he is missing is the Premier League which we are looking alot stronger in this season.
By james. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:42 PM.
Sabir
mascherano
how can you say Mascherano isnt worth 20 million he is quality when you look at the amout chelsea and man utd have spent, hargreaves 24m carrick 18m SWP 24m etc etc
your on planet janet
By james. Posted October 26 2008 at 12:38 PM.
Red Rus - needs to be more diplomatic
But he is spot on about Rafa
By Frank. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:11 AM.
great he can go and sell torres to man city then the owners and some of that massive interest on their loans
By stan the fan. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:32 AM.
Torres is your only quality sigining and i would give it that i forgot Reina. The rest are all average players not bad players but average players.
I suppose if 3/4th is the target then they are considered to but good buys.
I mean was mascherano really worth around 20 mill ?
By sabir. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:45 AM.
you pieces of ******
who u think is a better replacement for Rafael Benitez ???? especially now in this moment??????
Imagine the players that would move on with RB if he leaves the club, starting with Fernando Torres......The LFC players know the meaning of being loyal, not like Ashley Cole & co. who puts money before football....
The americans are liars n they are only money minded, have u people ever realize that amerians r selfish n think that they only r the best n they wanna make LFC a laughing stock, starting with the Barry matter???????????
So let RB alone n let him carry on with what he has started n let his family affairs out of this, bcs u never heard about his personal matters like others eg Ashley Cole etccccc
LIVE N LET LIVE
IN RB we true LFC fans believe
'' U LL NEVER WALK ALONE '' RB
By shrek. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:17 AM.
Yo, who said Torres is Rafa's only good signing???
Torres, MASCHERANO, REINA, SKRTEL, BABEL, ALONSO, AGGER !!!! Thats more like it, and if yopiu ask me, Benayoun is also a good signing.
By MC. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:23 AM.
omg i take it tht this NAAB is either a utd arsenal or eve'n chelsea fan like we couldnt guess look m8 who ever ya support ya must b just so worried of lfc stop chattin crap about outr club and our manager and worry about ya own!! rafa for lfc for life, torre'ss to b lfc legend, , jezer76, lfc since 1976.
By jezer76. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:00 AM.
Personally he can go, Facts stevie highway produced back to back youth cup success, but just how many players made the senior team? Rafa has spent and wasted millions on poor players not fit to wear RED. Just look at Arboela, Aurileo, Dossena, pennant to name 4 and I could name 10 more easliy, the whole mess with Xabi. Right now it is still stevie G and carra holding us 2gether and at long last we have in Torres a World class striker. NO player or manager is bigger than than the club, so please GO, Rafa, and any other player who wants out. in with Rijkaard and DIC billions and real players who play for Liverpool & us fans.
By Bobby stevens. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:58 AM.
Anthony,
i think you need to wake up mate. Its not the 90's were you were judged by the amount of youngsters coming through the youth system. Your judged by what quality you have bought in now.
For every 10 potential yourth players probably 1 if your lucky 2 will develop in to top quality players for the big clubs. I bet you every supporter in the permiership thinks there youth system for there club is the best in the business.
I thought nigel comments were actually sensible and practical and would agree 3/4th is the best you can hope for.
By sabir. Posted October 26 2008 at 11:03 AM.
The team is settled and he is not rotating as he used to and look at the difference. so far this calendar year liverpool has amassed more points than chelshit, man u and arsenal. The team is beaming with confidence and will go the distance. As for the yanks, if they can not understand that and wreck they harmony at anfield one way or the other, believe me anfield will become Beirut for them.
By ravi. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:52 AM.
Lets be honest speaking as a netural and not with my head in the clouds in the time rafa has been at liverpool they have spent as much as chealsea, man united. What have the 3 teams got to show for it lets look at chealse ( Mourinho) ...Drogba, Carvalleho,Joe Cole, Essien,Mikeal,Chech,Ashley Cole.
man united (Ferguson) : Berbatov, Anderson, Nani, Evra, Vidic,Ronaldo,Carrick,Ferdinand
Liverpool ( Rafa) : Torres
I think that sums it up. Do not blame the yanks they have given plenty of money and looking at rafa's history he had the same problem at valencia were he was always crying about money and in the end the board has just has enough of him.
The best thing for LF is if he walks away but he will never do that because he knows what a good thing he has at liverpool fc.
By Sabir. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:48 AM.
If I only write one bit of sense today let this be it:
Redruss, you are talking complete nonsense and need help.
that is all
By rarnes1. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:01 AM.
Red Russ & Co, if you have any Liverpool jerseys or scarves please hand them back! You call yourselves supporters, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Rafa has over-achieved in his time at Anfield. He inherited a crop of average players with the exception of Stevie G and Carra and guided them to the CL, he has since spent the last 3 years putting a team together that can compete with the other 3. Yes he has made mistakes but what manager hasn't??? Fergie took over utd in 86 and spent 7 years before he won the title, look what they have now for stiking by him!!! Alot of the current problems at the club are not Rafas doing. Rick Parry and David Moores sell the club to a bunch of renegeade yanks, Messrs Gillett and Hicks are stripping us to the bare bones and will sell up when they have sucked the life blood out of our beloved club. I'm surprised Rafa wants to stay on, we should be begging him to stay, he is the future of LFC. From a true Kopite YNWA
By Brendan. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:19 AM.
we need the americans to have some backbone and give rafa the credit he deserves.THE man has given us great hopes that he can lead us back to were we belong at the top. ONLYrafa knows wat he wants money or commitment to the greatest club in the world i hope for all us great pool fans it is for sucess reasons and not big money.
By willie smith. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:16 AM.
BLAH BLAH BLAH
ISNT IT THE SAME EVERY YEAR BENITEZ HAS MORE CONTRACT DISPUTE THEN MACDONALDS
WHEN THE AMERICANS CAME IN EVERY ONE SAID LIVERPOOL WOULD WIN THE LEAGUE WITH THEIR MONEY BUT THEY ARE TIGHTER THEN A DUCKS BUTT IN WATER..?
NOW YOUR PLANS FOR THE SO CALLED NEW STADIUM ARE SHELVED NO MONEY NO NEW PLAYERS JUST THE SAME OLD STALE TEAM RELYING ON 3 GOOD PLAYERS GERRARD TORRES & CARRA YOU COULD TRY SELLING THE REST TO SPURS BUT EVEN THEY AINT THAT DESPERATE ..!
LOOK AT OTHER CHAIRMEN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THEN WONDER WHERE YOURS ARE TAKING YOU
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD START TO THE SEASON BUT THEN COLLAPSE FASTER THEN ONE OF FRED DIBNAHS TOWERS
GOOD LUCK FOR THE SEASON (YOUR GONNA NEED IT..!)
By ANTHONY. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:47 AM.
Nigel,
You are one bitter fool. The comeback in Instabul was a combo of tactical genius by Rafa and and a fantastic display by EVERY player in the second half.
As for 2007, you obviously didn't watch the game..... Liverpool dominated Milan. We played better in that game than Instabul and still came away empty handed.
Oh well thats top class footie for you.
At the end of the day liverpool are starting to see bear the fruit of what rafa has been seeding for the past 4-5 years. A new longer contract is what he deserves and the yanks will have some more questions to answer is they don't give it to him.
By rob. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:07 AM.
highly overated manager, should of gone after defeat in champion league final, gerrard won final in istanbul, in next one puts out lame team, zenden, so good never played for us again. doesn't understand premiership, players signed only average, an the ones who are good he doesn't play enough, babbel for example, why weren't we in for wright philips, needed good right winger for bout 5 years now, better play safe an get a def midfielder as cover in case somethin happen to alonso, gerrard, mascherano, lucas, plesis, lol,
gutted tottenham got redknap, would love english manager with passion an understandin of history back at liverpool,
in ideal world kenny d back at helm!!!!!
By Paul partington. Posted October 26 2008 at 9:29 AM.
What nonsense - give Rafa credit where it is due for the Champions League win. His only mistake was putting Kewell in the starting lineup and for that the team was punished. But he reacted brilliantly, and at half time the introduction of Didi Hamann is what balanced the team and turned the game. There were other players on that pitch. Gerrard was amazing, but so were most of the others.
By red_neil. Posted October 26 2008 at 8:40 AM.
It is a disgrace that so many so called fans are on here having a go at Rafa. If you look at the bigger picture we are now a steronger club all over the youth, reserves etc. Sammy Lee has been a massive introduction for this season, the squad unity is there to see. When you go the match you will see and hear that the vast majority of true supporters love and would back this man to the hilt. Just look at the protest of last season, and we are doing even better under him now so his stock as risen further.
By Jonski. Posted October 26 2008 at 8:49 AM.
It is amazing how little a lot of you know about football. When the legend Daglish left the club, the mighty reds were in freefall, just by chance at the same time Man utd were becoming very strong. We fell that far behind, that we have been playing catch up ever since and always focusing on the first team. Since Rafa has arrived in five years, it has been like running the 1500 metre race against the likes of Man utd, Chelsea and Arsenal, but having to start off three hundred metres further back, whatever you do to try and catch up, they do the same and so becomes almost impossible and besides what trophy has been won or not, he has knocked down the ramshackle wooden shack left by his predecessors and built a proper foundation, and to be said with a limited budget, for years to come!!!!
To him it hasnt just been about the first teams glory, but reestablishing Liverpool as what they should be...one of the greatest teams in the world and putting them back onto the world map!!
Look at a lot of his buys..KIDS...he has been working behind the scenes on porducing an empire for years to come. Look at the youth and reserve teams success since he has been involved. So dont judge the great man Rafa to you look at everything he has been doing here, not just one aspect!!
By martin. Posted October 26 2008 at 8:48 AM.
red Russ,
You are an absolute disgrace, call yourself a liverpool SUPPORTER. Do all fellow reds a favour and change your name to bloue russ and do one to the other side of stanley park if you dont want to SUPPORT the team. What raffa has done for us is attract players with world class qualitties such as Torres, on a self funded budget.
By cjmck. Posted October 26 2008 at 8:56 AM.
its all talk if they did get rid of rafa the players wouldnt go anywhere as its the club that pay their big wage bills and a little thing called a contract that they have signed.
By jenny machin. Posted October 26 2008 at 8:51 AM.
Whats he done for us? hardly been with the big boys of Chelsea and Man U have we. As for money spent He has spent more than anyone else in the last four years, just that he buys crap that he needs to get rid of. How long have we got to wait for something other than being a laughing stock to the mancs. Maybe we will get Ramos when spurs are finished with him.
Red Russ
By Red Russ. Posted October 26 2008 at 7:28 AM.
Quote... "It has always surprised me how Rafa has stayed in the job so long. He has won nothing as a coach there, and don't mention the European Cup because that was an example of how one man, in this case Stevie G, can turn a match on his own through shear strength of character and rescue a team tactically in pieces. On that wonderful night in Istanbul Liverpool won despite Rafa, not because of him. Yet in the following press conferences, and the following barren seasons, Rafa always claimed 'he' had won the European Cup. In fact he has not coached them to any success previous manager's had achieved. When they had a re-run of that final 2 years later and again came up against AC Milan the coaching methods and tactics were found sadly wanting"
Because getting to the Champions League final twice in three years is so easy, just ask Fergie, Wenger or Mourhino
By Darren. Posted October 26 2008 at 6:32 AM.
It's sad to see that supporters are dissing Rafa..he has worked with limited Budgets and he has created a team that are willing to run themselves into the ground for him.Yes,Stevie G is captain fantastic but one does not make a Team.Rafa is at the beginning of a Great shift at Liverpool,he has the respect of the dressing room..how many managers dream of that.He has put together a Team that has the mental strength to roll up there sleeves and come back to win games,did that happen before?Rafa is at every game,he never take a sick day.he is at every game.he deserves an increase.Liverpool since 1979
By Carlo - South Africa. Posted October 26 2008 at 6:09 AM.
The comments are sad,as Liverpool supporters one would have thought that you would back the manager.Think about this:He kept liverpool going through the rough periods he is always there...He cant rest due to Injury or fatigue..We should be happy he has the backing of the players..Teams are currently falling apart because they lost the dressing room and the respect of the club..Rafa deserve a better contract..Yes Steven Gerrard is Captain Fantastic but Rafa has built a Great Team around Stevie G and Jamie C..We coming back to win games.Appreciate
By Carlo N - South Africa. Posted October 26 2008 at 5:59 AM.
1. He's not so good that he has an hypnotic spell over these players.
2. What kind of percentage are we talking about that have actually voluntarily departed a job just because their boss got fired?
I'm not being funny, but Steve Gerrard is the best player at Liverpool and him staying or leaving is not based on anything related to Rafa. Torres is destined to become a Liverpool legend whether Rafa is there or not. Sorry, but the rest will all become forgotten men if they leave Liverpool based on some crazy loyalty to Rafa - they don't fall into the same category as Gerrard and Torres.
By Gary Sanderson. Posted October 26 2008 at 4:52 AM.
Liverpool is run by Yanks.what do they know about football.They even call it soccer.
By bruce. Posted October 26 2008 at 3:44 AM.
Lampard, Drogba, Essien, Carvalho, etc etc... In the end, how many actually left Chelsea?
By Joshua Ng. Posted October 26 2008 at 3:13 AM.
Yeah, just like Drogba and Lampard left after J.Morinho's departure.
By marlyselina. Posted October 26 2008 at 1:41 AM.
Too many problems in sport are about money.
Players should want to play for their place in the club and not focus on money.
Managers should be the same, in the current cris many of us would be happy with just 1% of their wages.
If his heart does not lie with the club and argues about the money then let him go, simple.
As a liverpool fan for over 25 years I want people who want to be there for commitment to the club , not just for the pay packet.
By chris. Posted October 26 2008 at 1:15 AM.
Benitez playing games trying to get a new contract, his family's settled, etc.
Let's see if we challenge for the PL this season, then discuss his future in the summer.
This exodus of players stuff is rubbish. Same was said when Mourinho left Chelsea.
By Nigel. Posted October 26 2008 at 1:44 AM.
It has always surprised me how Rafa has stayed in the job so long. He has won nothing as a coach there, and don't mention the European Cup because that was an example of how one man, in this case Stevie G, can turn a match on his own through shear strength of character and rescue a team tactically in pieces. On that wonderful night in Istanbul Liverpool won despite Rafa, not because of him. Yet in the following press conferences, and the following barren seasons, Rafa always claimed 'he' had won the European Cup. In fact he has not coached them to any success previous manager's had achieved. When they had a re-run of that final 2 years later and again came up against AC Milan the coaching methods and tactics were found sadly wanting. After defeat against Chelsea today Liverpool will again find good luck never lasts for a full season, and they have already used up their quota for this season. Soon injuries, loss of form and confidence will bring about Liverpool going back to their rightful place, the 4th placed team under attack from the pack for the last Champions League place.
By Keith Maynard. Posted October 26 2008 at 2:13 AM.