Premiership managers coveted by Real Madrid have moved swiftly to distance themselves from the vacant post at the Bernabeu. Jose Mourinho claimed yesterday he was unaware of Madrid's interest in him as a potential successor to Wanderley Luxemburgo, with Rafael Benitez making similar comments.

The Chelsea manager is on a Real short list that includes Benitez, the man in charge of his Champions League opponents tonight, but it appears the nine-time European champions must look beyond these shores for the calibre of replacement they crave.

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger ruled himself out last week, and Sven-Goran Eriksson has assured the English Football Association that he was committed to managing England until the end of the World Cup.

"Who mentions my name?" Mourinho said. "For me this is speculation, stories. I like Luxemburgo very much so I'm not happy, but that's football."

Benitez also swerved questions put to him about the managerial vacancy at Madrid, where he started his playing and coaching careers, but was insistent his immediate future lay at Anfield.

The European champions are privately braced for Real to make an approach for Benitez, most likely at the end of the season, though whether the former Valencia manager will be tempted to work under Florentino Perez, given the president's willingness to chop and change his coaching staff, remains doubtful.

"I am manager of Liverpool and I'm trying to do my best here," said Benitez. "Real Madrid are a fantastic club, but I say again that I am happy here. I am proud to be at Liverpool and nothing else is on my mind other than the job I still have to do."

Real Madrid flew to Greece last night for tonight's Champions League match against Olympiakos no nearer to appointing a manager.

If the caretaker coach Juan Roman Lopez Caro was under any illusions about his chances of hanging onto the job, they were dispelled by Emilio Butragueno's blunt admission that Madrid had opted for him simply because he was the candidate at hand.

"We needed someone to go to Greece with the team," said the vice-president.

Madrid are expected to stick with Lopez Caro at least until Christmas. And if they hire a new coach then, he is unlikely to be offered a contract beyond the end of the season.

Caro's first opportunity to impress has been tempered by the decision to rest several top players. Raul and Jonathan Woodgate are injured, and Guti is suspended. But the Spaniards have also allowed Iker Casillas, Michel Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Ivan Helguera, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo to remain at home.

Olympiakos coach Trond Sollied said he would use the game to give fringe players more European experience.

"I wouldn't say I will experiment, but I will use some players who have not had much of a chance this year," he said.

One of those to benefit will be Dani, his close-season signing from Espanyol who said he was not fooled by the absence of so many Real Madrid players.

"Madrid's philosophy is to win every game. Everyone at Madrid feels that way," said the former Spain international who played for Real in 1992-93.