by Silver » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:16 am
Thank u.
Benitez rejects Gerrard rumours
Liverpool v Blackburn
Benitez brushes off Real rumours
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has said his recent conversations with Steven Gerrard have not been about a possible transfer from Anfield.
Gerrard has been linked with a move to Chelsea, despite having reiterated his intent to see out his contract.
"I have been talking with Gerrard, but only about Wednesday's game against Blackburn," Benitez told the club's official website.
"He's our player for the next two years and there's been no deal done."
A win for Liverpool over Blackburn would see the gap closed to five points between the Anfield club and Everton who currently occupy the fourth Champions League spot.
We prefer to think about what we control - not the rumours that we cannot control
Rafael Benitez
"I spoke with Stevie about football, about the set-pieces we want to do and the movement I want to see on the pitch against Blackburn. We don't have time to waste on rumours," added Benitez
"I know Stevie is only concentrated on us. He has a clear idea about what to do each day and if he takes this into the games I'll be happy.
"We know how important this game is. Blackburn haven't lost in four games and they will be tough so we need to analyse every situation and find a solution.
"We prefer to think about what we control, not the rumours that we cannot control."
Earlier, Benitez quashed rumours linking him to a possible move to troubled Real Madrid.
Reports from Spain have suggested current coach Wanderley Luxemburgo is set to be sacked after failures in the Champions League and Spanish championship.
Benitez brushes off Real reports
Benitez still harbours hopes of winning the Champions League
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has distanced himself from speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
Rumours in Spain suggest the Spaniard is set for a summer return to La Liga with Real preparing to sack present incumbent Wanderley Luxemburgo.
"Real Madrid is just another rumour. All I'm thinking about is a win against Blackburn," said Benitez.
Real President Florentino Perez insists Luxemburgo has "all our confidence" despite the club's present poor run.
They trail Barcelona in the league by 11 points and failed to reach the last eight of the Champions League, losing 2-1 to Juventus.
Benitez would have to be nuts to take the Real job
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Their present malaise is a far cry from the rich vein of form they struck when Luxemburgo took over the reins at the Bernabeu in January and became the first coach to win his first seven league games in charge of the club.
However, since then they have won just once in five outings and crashed out of Europe and Benitez and Juve boss Fabio Capello are said to head a list of potential replacements for the Brazilian.
Despite speculation, Perez insisted: "Next year's Real Madrid will be built around Luxemburgo."
Luxemburgo added: "Sincerely, I'm not worried about whether I'll continue or not at Real Madrid next year because my thoughts are only centered on getting the team to finish as well as it should this season.
"I'm not worried at all that other names of possible substitutes have appeared. This is very common when things aren't going so well.
I've got a five-year contract and I can't see why I'm not going to honour it
Rafael Benitez
"This is like in Brazil. When a team loses a match, three or four names of replacements appear. That's soccer," he told Spanish sports daily As.
Benitez began his career with Real as a youth player and was a coach at the club from 1989 to 1995, winning the league with the youth and B teams before assisting manager Vicente del Bosque.
The 44-year-old has strong credentials having led Valencia to two La Liga titles and the Uefa Cup in a three-season stay before his move to Merseyside last summer.
"I've got a five-year contract and I can't see why I'm not going to honour it," Benitez added.
You Never Walk Aone
