Benitez tight-lipped over Liverpool future

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remained tight-lipped Saturday on his long-term future at Anfield ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Benitez has been strongly linked with a move to Juventus, with several reports indicating the Italian giants are ready to step in with an offer, but the Spaniard insists his focus is only on Sunday’s game.

“At the moment I can’t talk about the future long-term,” he said in quotes reported by The Sun. “I know the future clearly and it is Chelsea on Sunday.”

Benitez said during the week that the Merseyside club do not have the financial muscle to challenge in the Premier League, and revealed he had not been given any guarantees from the board that money would be available in the summer.

Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett officially put Liverpool up for sale a fortnight ago having admitted they had taken the club as far as they could.

Benitez also revealed he had turned down “massive offers” to leave Liverpool, and admitted fan power was key to those decisions.

“I have had massive offers over the last year and I decided to stay because of the fans,” he added in The Star.

“Those fans are amazing. If I am here, it is because of them. They are wonderful supporters.

“The fans are the main thing, the best thing that the club has, and for one year I have been working hard, trying to do my best.”