Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek has denied British Sunday newspaper claims he is on his way out of Anfield. Dudek exclusively told Eurosport.com on Monday: "I hope to be at Liverpool [in January]. You never know what may happen, but I have never said I want to leave the club."
The 31-year-old has seen his position as number one undermined by the emergence of the promising Chris Kirkland, but insisted he sees his long-term future at Anfield.
"I have a contract for two-and-a-half years and I've always said I'm happy. I'd love to stay at Liverpool until the end of my contract, but you never know what can happen.
"Maybe the coach and management may change and say we have some offers for you and you can leave the club. But I would like to stay at Liverpool for a long, long time. It was always my dream to play for the club."
Arriving in October 2001 after five seasons in the Dutch top flight with Feyenoord, the Poland international established himself as Gerard Houllier's first choice, ousting Sander Westerveld.
But with Kirkland now having put two seasons of injury worries behind him - and the installation of new boss Rafael Benitez after Houllier's departure in the summer - Dudek has seen his iron grip on a first-team place loosened.
"I'M A VERY HAPPY PERSON"
Both keepers have played six Premiership games this season, with Kirkland consigning his rival to the sidelines again for last Saturday's slender 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.
But while Dudek admitted he was unhappy on the bench, he is ready to battle to earn the right to a first-team place.
"As a professional, I must accept that I have to work even harder for the team even if I am not playing. Of course, because there is a new coach he likes to give everybody their chance.
"At the beginning I played a few games and now it's the turn of Chris. We'll see what the future will bring for us. I cannot be happy with this situation, but following the arrival of the new manager, I am very happy with the new goalkeeping coach we have now at Liverpool. I am a very happy person."
The Polish number one was also aggrieved disparaging remarks about former Liverpool manager Houllier being "a bad manager" had been attributed to him in the weekend's News of the World.
"There is always some kind of misunderstanding in the British press," said Dudek. "Everybody knows that I have never been against my managers or my players. I am professional enough and clever enough to say the right things. But the quote definitely didn't come from my mouth!"
Intresting, Jerzy for me is good cover, but not reliable enough to have as the number one.
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