Benitez: 'My Liverpool FC future not down to one tie'Feb 25 2009 by Ian Doyle, Daily Post
RAFAEL BENITEZ does not believe his future will be determined by the outcome of the Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
The Spaniard returns to the Bernabeu this evening for Liverpool’s first knockout round first leg tie against the club where he spent 16 years as a player and coach.
With their Premier League challenge faltering in recent weeks, Europe has again emerged as the most likely route to silverware for the Anfield outfit.
And it means Benitez will give Steven Gerrard every chance to prove his fitness after missing the last three weeks with a hamstring tear.
The clash with Real has taken on extra significance given the current impasse over the Spaniard’s contract, which has now dragged on for almost four months.
An early elimination from the Champions League would undoubtedly weaken the manager’s hand during negotiations with American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
But asked if tonight’s game was important to his contract, Benitez said: “I don’t think so. It’s an important game for the club. You know the situation and we have to wait.
“You have to judge a manager on his career, not one or two games. That’s my idea. If you have to decide a manager’s future on one or two games, I don’t think that’s the best decision.”
Doubts remain over Gerrard’s availability, with the player having taken part in only light training on Monday and further non-contact work in last night’s session at the Bernabeu. And Benitez has admitted no decision has yet been made over whether the skipper will be named in the starting line-up. “We’ll decide after we talk with him after training,” said the Anfield manager. "It depends on the player. In the end we will talk with him and the doctor. Gerrard is more mature now and knows he has to give something to us. So if he is not ready, then he will say he is not ready. We aren’t trying to hide anything. We just want to make sure the player is okay and we don’t want to take any risks. But as always, the most important thing for us is the next game. And this is a massive game.”
Benitez spent seven years at Real in the youth and reserve ranks before injury ended his playing days. He then returned to the club in 1986 to work in various coaching capacities.
But the Liverpool manager dismissed suggestions his historic Bernabeu ties have given him any extra incentive for progress.
“There are people still working here from I was last here,” said Benitez, who also refused to be drawn on whether he would consider any offer to return to Real at the end of the season, when presidential elections will be held. I can see a lot of friends. I have people here who I have good memories with. But my motivation is just to win a Champions League game against a top side in Europe. I’m a professional, so I want to help my side win.”
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