Xabi Alonso Backs Benitez In Liverpool 'Tug Of War'

Liverpool are no strangers to off-field drama. Indeed, they have endured episode after episode of boardroom discontent since Tom Hicks and George Gillett took control of the club in 2007.

The American co-owners' relationship with Rafael Benitez has always been a rocky one, with disputes over transfer funds and the manager's position often spilling over into messy public feuds.

Now the Spanish tactician is fighting for an improved contract, after rejecting an initial offer made late last year and demanding the insertion of a clause that grants him total control over player purchases and sales.

Talks have stalled since then, and the unrest is mounting at Anfield as the team desperately try to keep up their bid for a first Premier League title.

Xabi Alonso has stressed the importance of maintaining stability off the pitch, and he believes that can't be achieved until Benitez pens a new deal.

The Sun quoted the Spaniard as saying, "The owners and Rafa seem to be involved in a tug of war.

"Even if they are trying to resolve it for the better of the club, there is no question in my mind when you have the right man for the job, securing his continuity is important.

"We’ve been through our bad moments but constant change, or change for the sake of it, isn’t a good thing at a club like this.

"It’s a subject between Rafa and the owners and the team must not let it affect us at any cost but my personal bet is Rafa will stay with Liverpool."

In many ways it would be cruelly ironic if Benitez were to leave Liverpool this season, just as the club are putting up their first real fight for the title since the early 1990s.

The former Valencia coach has gradually built the Reds up into a top-shelf team since arriving in 2004 to clean up the mess left by Gerard Houllier, and Alonso reckons that accomplishment must be rewarded.

"When he came here, Liverpool had a massive history but they had lost competitiveness compared to the other European greats — and had spent a long time without winning major trophies," said the 27-year-old.

"From his arrival to now, you can feel the progress and that he’s put Liverpool back where they once were — amongst Europe’s greats and aspiring to win everything we enter."

Liverpool currently sit second in the league table, two points behind Manchester United. They will face Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu later this month in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.

Mike Maguire, Goal.com



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