ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:RAFAEL BENITEZ has expressed his displeasure at Roberto Mancini's pronouncement that Manchester City are hoping to join Europe's leading clubs in pursuit of Fernando Torres this summer.
The Liverpool manager accepts there will be interest in the Spanish striker at the end of this season, as was the case last summer, but is unhappy at Mancini’s decision to go public with City’s ambitions.
“There are some things in football that you cannot change,” said Benitez. “I wasn’t happy about this situation, but, when you talk to Fernando, it is clear he is happy at Liverpool, so hopefully everything will be okay.”
Benitez admitted his concerns lie with improving a miserable away record at Burnley tomorrow.
Defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final on Thursday meant Liverpool have won only seven of 27 away games in all competitions this season.
“That record suggests we have not been good enough away from home and that we have to improve, it’s true,” Benitez said.
“In Madrid it was a pity because we couldn’t get the away goal, but we have to be more solid and stronger. That’s mentally and physically – everything.”
Benitez has still not spoken to new Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton, one week after the British Airways chairman was appointed to the role with a brief to sell the club on behalf of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Jamie Carragher has condemned the Premier League for Liverpool’s poor display in Madrid, insisting the club’s televised game against West Ham United on Monday should have been re-arranged.
“The worst thing for us was playing on Monday night,” said Carragher.
“When Inter Milan are in the Champions League, they play on a Friday night. Their league does everything to help them. Playing on Monday night was a joke.”
Liverpool are considering a summer move for Rafael van der Vaart, having been offered the chance to sign the Netherlands international by Real Madrid.
Club officials met in the Spanish capital before Liverpool’s match with Atletico, with Real taking the opportunity to try to offload several players deemed surplus by club president Florentino Perez.
Van der Vaart was offered despite having forced his way into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans this season in a deal that would see Real recoup much of the €13 million they paid Hamburg in 2008.
Whether Benitez envisages a role for the 27-year-old midfielder in his plans is not clear, and doubts over the manager’s long-term future at Anfield, plus the transfer funds available, mean there are several issues for the club to address before pursuing a deal for the former Ajax favourite.
Guardian Service
