BENITEZ REFUSES TO ABANDON BARRY
Posted 12/08/08 19:30EmailPrintSave
Defiant Rafael Benitez has declared himself "completely calm" as he approaches Liverpool's crucial Champions League qualifier against Standard Liege.
But as Liverpool prepare to face the Belgian champions in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie, this could well be the calm before another Anfield storm.
Benitez is still privately furious that the club's American owners have all-but vetoed his £18million move for Gareth Barry.
When Benitez returns home from this match, and before the Barclays Premier League starts for his team on Saturday at Sunderland, Benitez will try again to resurrect the Barry deal.
By then Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill could have cup-tied Barry in Europe by playing him in the UEFA Cup against FH Hafnarfjardar from Iceland.
That should finish the deal for good, but Benitez is a stubborn man and anything is still possible.
Benitez refused to be drawn on the situation, or a host of possible deals he could be doing in the next fortnight before the transfer window shuts.
Asked whether he had made any contact with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to discuss the current crisis, Benitez would only say: "I am not thinking about signing players at the moment, because they cannot play against Liege tomorrow. I am only concentrating on this game.
"And I have not needed to contact the owners because they cannot help with the preparation for this match. I prefer not to say anything else."
His mood was remarkably serene considering the embarrassment of how the owners put the block on the Barry deal, and he said: "I was really calm last week, and I am concentrating on the game. We did not have big problems.
"I have not been distracted, I have been focusing on this game and getting to the Champions League group stages."
The bottom line is that if you are going to launch a war with your bosses again, you have to win in Europe.
Liverpool's financial position is worrying, and they need a run in the group stages desperately to bring in the guaranteed millions which the Champions League affords its clubs.
Benitez, aware of the financial implications for Rangers following their Champions League exit to FBK Kaunas last week, said: "I always have confidence in my players, but when you play against anyone in Europe you have to be very careful.
"We know Standard are a good team, especially at home.
"It is not just English clubs that should worry about making mistakes against smaller teams. Every club must be aware of the quality of your opponents.
"You must be really focused for every game, you cannot change things once you have made a mistake.
"My aim is to win here to make sure we progress. Since I have been at Liverpool we have always known how important it is to qualify for the group stages.
"We always have known. And we must make sure that we do qualify for the next stage.
"There is no more pressure than in previous seasons, we all know how important it is to get past this qualifying round.
"Everyone knows how important the Champions League is for us, we must play well.
"I am not thinking about signing players at the moment, because they cannot play against Liege tomorrow. I am only concentrating on this game."
Benitez has now been linked with Chelsea's Joe Cole plus young Polish right wing-back Jakub Blaszczykowski who plays for Borussia Dortmund.
He is clearly about to sell Steve Finnan after what is believed to have been a falling-out between the pair over claims that the Irishman has been offered to other clubs.
Finnan is not with the squad, but Xabi Alonso is in Belgium and despite suggestions he could still be sold - along with Andriy Voronin and Jermaine Pennant - Benitez confirmed he is prepared to cup-tie the Spaniard in Europe here.
The same would seemingly apply to Voronin and Pennant, both with the party
