• Premier League

Benitez blames lack of money for Reds downfall

ESPN Soccernet staff
May 2, 2010
Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at Anfield © Getty Images
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Rafael Benitez has suggested that the lack of money available to him at Liverpool has been key to their poor performances this season.

Liverpool currently sit seventh in the Premier League and have officially failed to reach the Champions League for the first time in Benitez's tenure after losing 2-0 at home to title-chasing Chelsea.

''The reality is that if you compare with other teams in terms of money, power and the option you have in the market you can analyse carefully and then you have answers,'' he said. ''The fans are very clever, they know what is going on. It is very clear that things are like this now and still we have to carry on going forward.

''Next season we have to do almost everything perfect and if we make one or two mistakes we don't have the possibility to react so it is more difficult for us. We will prepare for the next game (at Hull) and then start thinking about things for the future.

''The fans want to know (whether Benitez will be in charge next season) but I want to know what is going on next week against Hull. Now we have to concentrate on another game and then prepare for the future.''

When asked if he will be at Anfield next season, Benitez said: ''I have four years of a contract left so we will see. I was talking about the speculation during the last two or three weeks and I cannot be talking about it all the time. I won't talk too much about this. Now I want to talk about football."

Benitez rejected the suggestion the lacklustre post-match lap around Anfield after Sunday's game at Anfield was his farewell to the supporters.

'We have to say thank you to our fans, as always, because they have been very good,'' he said.

On the subject of Liverpool's loss to Chelsea on Sunday, Benitez added:''We approached the game thinking about winning but we are very disappointed because it was a game that was equal and then we conceded the goal and things changed. When we conceded the second goal, against Chelsea that is normally the end.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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