RAFAEL BENITEZ the politician was in his element yesterday as he insisted his wish was to remain in charge for at least the final two years of his existing contract but refused to provide assurances that he will be present at Anfield to pick up the pieces should the stand-off between Tom Hicks and George Gillett extend into this summer and damage his long-term plans.
Insisting his focus was only on today's visit to Fulham, Liverpool's manager did concede "progress" had been made with the club's American owners over their meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann since he asked for clarification last Sunday and that he is close to completing the signing of three inexpensive players. His own future he purposely left open to debate.
Hicks has promised Benitez a 12-month extension to his current contract should he gain majority control, a development that would also grant the manager's desire to see the back of Parry. Of course, neither event can occur without Gillett selling at least part of his holding to Hicks and the former currently has no intention of doing so, a stance that would require Benitez to continue working with a chief executive he opposes and amid a stalemate that will hinder work on a new stadium and his transfer budget.
Asked if he could imagine walking away from Liverpool under those circumstances, Benitez replied: "At this moment, no. I think the squad is already better for next season than for this season. At this moment I have two years of contract, I am really happy here and I want to stay." Or whether he would walk away if the ownership issue remained unresolved and had an impact on his job? "For the next game against Fulham it will not have any impact so I will try to win that game. We need these three points to be as close to fourth place as quickly as possible."
The Liverpool manager insisted that uncertainty over the future direction of the club and its finances has not disrupted his daily work or preparations for next season: "We have had meetings with the scouting department, we talk about targets and they travel all around the world talking with players and agents. We are trying to do our job."
"We have some signings for the next season done. They are senior players for the first team and young players for the first team and reserve team. You need to look for Bosman players and sometimes you need to do it quickly and go for cheap players."
As for the response of the club's owners to Benitez's request for clarity over Klinsmann and reports, yesterday denied by Hicks's representative, that the German was aware of Liverpool's summer transfer agenda, the manager added: "We have been in contact. As a club, we have been progressing, and that is positive. I will not explain too much, but since Sunday until now we have been progressing."
With the chance that skipper Steven Gerrard and full-back Alvaro Arbeloa may well be out injured at Craven Cottage - with the likelihood that Fernando Torres could be rested - Benitez also addressed concerns a weakened Liverpool team could boost Fulham as they fight against the drop. "We have a big squad, good players to come in and we will treat this game just like we did at Arsenal."
