Liverpool co-owner George Gilett has expressed regret at the damage done from the row with manager Rafa Benitez over transfer policy.
With arch-rivals Manchester United not only inflicting another demoralising Anfield defeat on Liverpool at the weekend, but also preparing to announce record turnover and profits, these are trying times for the Merseyside Reds.
The club's owners, the two Aumerican business tycoons Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, watched the United match before holding "clear-the-air" talks with Benítez on Sunday evening.
The club issued a statement saying those talks were "positive, amicable and constructive," and indeed it seems they went as well as could be expected.
However, most observers believe that the long-term job security of Benitez has been compromised by the public sniping, which the Americans ordered the Spaniard to stop, telling him instead to focus on getting the best out of the current squad.
On Sunday night there was a vote of confidence in Benitez from Gillett, who was speaking at a Liverpool Former Players’ Association dinner. Gillett expressed regret at the damage done.
“This [the row with Benitez] wasn’t supposed to happen, but it has happened and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation,” Gillett said.
“Rafa is the one we want as a manager further on and we have faith in him. I’ve been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument.”
On the prickly question of satisfying Benítez’s desire for transfer funds to spend in January, Gillett would not be drawn.
“The window opens soon and we might use the option that gives us, or we might not,” he said.
With arch-rivals Manchester United not only inflicting another demoralising Anfield defeat on Liverpool at the weekend, but also preparing to announce record turnover and profits, these are trying times for the Merseyside Reds.
The club's owners, the two Aumerican business tycoons Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, watched the United match before holding "clear-the-air" talks with Benítez on Sunday evening.
The club issued a statement saying those talks were "positive, amicable and constructive," and indeed it seems they went as well as could be expected.
However, most observers believe that the long-term job security of Benitez has been compromised by the public sniping, which the Americans ordered the Spaniard to stop, telling him instead to focus on getting the best out of the current squad.
On Sunday night there was a vote of confidence in Benitez from Gillett, who was speaking at a Liverpool Former Players’ Association dinner. Gillett expressed regret at the damage done.
“This [the row with Benitez] wasn’t supposed to happen, but it has happened and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation,” Gillett said.
“Rafa is the one we want as a manager further on and we have faith in him. I’ve been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument.”
On the prickly question of satisfying Benítez’s desire for transfer funds to spend in January, Gillett would not be drawn.
“The window opens soon and we might use the option that gives us, or we might not,” he said.
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