Rafael Benitez has reiterated his determination to stay at Liverpool despite the boardroom fight between the club's two owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
"At this moment I have two years on my contract. I am really pleased and happy here and want to stay," he told reporters on Friday.
American co-owners Hicks and Gillett each own 50 percent of the club, winners of five European Cups and 18 League Championships, as a result of their 219 million pounds ($441 million) take over in Feb. 2007.
But they are no longer talking and Hicks's attempts to force Gillett to sell his share to the Texan have fallen flat.
Hicks blocked a move by Dubai International Capital (DIC) to buy Liverpool in a 400 million pound takeover last month and has called for Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry to be sacked.
In return, Gillett has responded by backing Parry and added to the mudslinging by launching an attack on Hicks.
The latest war of words comes just days before Liverpool's Champions League semi-final tie with Chelsea, with Benitez likely to court more controversy with his team selection for Saturday's Premier League game at Fulham.
A win for Liverpool would edge them to within a point of securing a Champions League spot for next season, but the Spaniard will consider resting players with Tuesday's Champions League game in mind.
Captain Steven Gerrard is unlikely to play.
A year ago, Benitez sent out a virtual reserve team for the penultimate game of the season as he rested players ahead of the Champions League final against AC Milan.
They were beaten 1-0 by a Fulham side that needed victory to stay in the Premier League.
The move angered then Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock, whose team were relegated eight days later.
"My idea is to use a team that will win," Benitez said. "I will pick a strong team for winning because we want to guarantee fourth position as soon as possible.
"We will be eight points ahead of Everton if we can do it. After that we would need one more point and we want to do it as soon as possible because we want to be thinking about the Champions League."
"At this moment I have two years on my contract. I am really pleased and happy here and want to stay," he told reporters on Friday.
American co-owners Hicks and Gillett each own 50 percent of the club, winners of five European Cups and 18 League Championships, as a result of their 219 million pounds ($441 million) take over in Feb. 2007.
But they are no longer talking and Hicks's attempts to force Gillett to sell his share to the Texan have fallen flat.
Hicks blocked a move by Dubai International Capital (DIC) to buy Liverpool in a 400 million pound takeover last month and has called for Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry to be sacked.
In return, Gillett has responded by backing Parry and added to the mudslinging by launching an attack on Hicks.
The latest war of words comes just days before Liverpool's Champions League semi-final tie with Chelsea, with Benitez likely to court more controversy with his team selection for Saturday's Premier League game at Fulham.
A win for Liverpool would edge them to within a point of securing a Champions League spot for next season, but the Spaniard will consider resting players with Tuesday's Champions League game in mind.
Captain Steven Gerrard is unlikely to play.
A year ago, Benitez sent out a virtual reserve team for the penultimate game of the season as he rested players ahead of the Champions League final against AC Milan.
They were beaten 1-0 by a Fulham side that needed victory to stay in the Premier League.
The move angered then Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock, whose team were relegated eight days later.
"My idea is to use a team that will win," Benitez said. "I will pick a strong team for winning because we want to guarantee fourth position as soon as possible.
"We will be eight points ahead of Everton if we can do it. After that we would need one more point and we want to do it as soon as possible because we want to be thinking about the Champions League."
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