bad news for those 'rafa-haters'

the news is..rafa benitez is definitely staying put at Lfc...at least until the end of his contract!

rafa was really put under pressure to leave Lfc lately,  by the all manipulating British Media, the so-called expert pundits and of course many 'knee-jerked' Lfc fans. These people has put the strings of bad showing by the team  on the pitch in the EPL and the failure to qualify to the knock out stages of the Champions League squarely on the shoulders of the manager. They questioned his every moves - his tactics, his team selections, his transfer records right down to his goatee and color of his socks. 

Besides being reminded on so many occasions, these groups refused to acknowledge all the problems faced by the manager;

• The fact that the long injury lists at the early part of the season has affected team performance (Agger, Aurelio, Johnson, Aquilani, Skrtel, Benayoun, Riera, Babel, Torres, Gerrard - that's like the whole team injured). Important players such as Gerrard, Torres, Masherano and Carragher suffer injuries and fighting for fitness & form for the best part of the season.
• The fact that the manager was refused adequate transfer funds to beef up a squad which in many peoples mind will be a contender for the Champion spot of the EPL this season. Of course many will question his decisions on the purchase of 'injured' Alberto Aquilani but like what the manager has explained, Aquilani is the best player available at a knock-down price. He would have cost double if he is fit.

Other teams are also performing better due to the financial support from their board/owners during last summer transfer widow. Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspurs, Birmingham City all benefited from understanding owners. Though Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal has not spend much they have strong enough squad and has not suffer much injury problems.

Of course after a string of bad results, coupled with the many problems on and of the pitch, morale were low resulting in embarrassing show against the likes of Porthmouth. 

However, things look like brightening-up for Lfc. Players are back from injury and fit again (apart from Glenn Johnson). 

Despite all the pressures, Rafa looks set for the long haul at Lfc. His commitment towards the club is beyond doubt.

People might question this after he once issued a statement that he would quit if Fernando Torres is sold. At that time, Manchester City has tabled a bid of STG100million to Lfc - STG70million for Torres and another STG30million for Mascherano. Rafa rejected both offer.

"For those who didn't know, Rafa Benitez turned down the opportunity to take over at Real Madrid in the summer for the FOURTH time since he has been at Anfield. Benitez rejected a package worth €6million per year over a four-year deal and a transfer budget that a manager’s dreams are made of. The reason he rejected Real Madrid? Rafa believes that he is in the middle of a major project at Anfield, one that so far hasn’t reaped the rewards he expected, but is clearly a work in progress and he has faith in its ultimate success.

The aim is not to bring one league title to Anfield, but a succession of them and an era of Liverpool challenging for all major titles for years to come… "(By Gulliem Balague, Spanish Football Reporter cum Rafa's personal friend)

But for those Rafa haters, there is still hope..though it will be expensive for the club to sack Rafa (believed to be STG25million in compensation). Sell Torres for STG100million and Rafa will quit by himself... a handsome STG125million to the owners to settle their debt!!!

YNWA