Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has insisted that he would like to remain as the tactican of the Merseyside club for many more years to come.
The Reds are in a serious crisis, as six losses in seven games has threatened to throw the club's ambitions out the window. A seventh loss - against Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League - would be catastrophic for the Anfield outfit, as it would be their worst run since the appointment of the legendary Bill Shankly as manager of the club.
But with injuries to Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio and Albert Riera, there exists a real chance of the Reds succumbing to yet another defeat.
On top of the humiliation that would come with bowing out of Europe's top club competition at the group stage, the Merseysiders would suffer losses of around £15 million should such a thing come to pass.
"I am very pleased to be here and I wish to be here for a long time," Benitez is quoted by the Press Association as saying.
The club's two most important players - captain Gerrard and Fernando Torres - are in danger of having to undergo surgery to correct their respective injury problems.
"We do not want either player to have an operation, we will hope that they continue to improve. It is too early to say just yet," he said.
However, Benitez's side will receive a minor boost, as summer signing Alberto Aquilani is reportedly on the verge of starting his very first game in a Red jersey.
He continued: "At one stage 14 players were injured or had a virus, no club could cope with that.
"It is not easy with this injury crisis. If any of the top sides in England lost four or five of their very best players and then four or five from their bench, they would struggle.
"People do not realise how important Torres and Gerrard are until you lose them, this situation is not easy for anyone. But we will do our best and we do have the experience of such situations.
"Two years ago we also needed to win our final three group matches, and we succeeded. We can do that again.
"The players here are strong enough for this challenge. The mentality of the group is good, and they are determined to win.
"The players are working very hard, they are positive and determined. They know this result is important for the club, for everyone.
"But our fans have not turned. They are clever people, they know the position the club was in when I arrived and they know what position it is in now, they know this is the only way."
The under-fire boss insisted that his side will turn things around when some of his charges regain their fitness.
"It is important for everyone to see the bigger picture, I am sure things will change in a few weeks when we have our players fit again," he said.
"When we have our big players available, everything will change."
The gaffer then commented on his transfer policy, which has been subject to questioning on more than one occasion.
"I do not accept that we have not signed good players, some may not have settled as quickly, but we are doing a good job," he said.
"This is not the right time to be discussing our signings. But we do have good players, and we have too many injuries.
"We have signed very good players, we have a good team and a good squad.
Touching on the looming clash in Lyon, Benitez continued: "Losing would be bad for us, bad for the club, but we will keep going. But we are not thinking that way, we are only thinking of winning.
"In a few weeks these problems will have gone. Key players will be fit."
The Reds are in a serious crisis, as six losses in seven games has threatened to throw the club's ambitions out the window. A seventh loss - against Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League - would be catastrophic for the Anfield outfit, as it would be their worst run since the appointment of the legendary Bill Shankly as manager of the club.
But with injuries to Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio and Albert Riera, there exists a real chance of the Reds succumbing to yet another defeat.
On top of the humiliation that would come with bowing out of Europe's top club competition at the group stage, the Merseysiders would suffer losses of around £15 million should such a thing come to pass.
"I am very pleased to be here and I wish to be here for a long time," Benitez is quoted by the Press Association as saying.
The club's two most important players - captain Gerrard and Fernando Torres - are in danger of having to undergo surgery to correct their respective injury problems.
"We do not want either player to have an operation, we will hope that they continue to improve. It is too early to say just yet," he said.
However, Benitez's side will receive a minor boost, as summer signing Alberto Aquilani is reportedly on the verge of starting his very first game in a Red jersey.
He continued: "At one stage 14 players were injured or had a virus, no club could cope with that.
"It is not easy with this injury crisis. If any of the top sides in England lost four or five of their very best players and then four or five from their bench, they would struggle.
"People do not realise how important Torres and Gerrard are until you lose them, this situation is not easy for anyone. But we will do our best and we do have the experience of such situations.
"Two years ago we also needed to win our final three group matches, and we succeeded. We can do that again.
"The players here are strong enough for this challenge. The mentality of the group is good, and they are determined to win.
"The players are working very hard, they are positive and determined. They know this result is important for the club, for everyone.
"But our fans have not turned. They are clever people, they know the position the club was in when I arrived and they know what position it is in now, they know this is the only way."
The under-fire boss insisted that his side will turn things around when some of his charges regain their fitness.
"It is important for everyone to see the bigger picture, I am sure things will change in a few weeks when we have our players fit again," he said.
"When we have our big players available, everything will change."
The gaffer then commented on his transfer policy, which has been subject to questioning on more than one occasion.
"I do not accept that we have not signed good players, some may not have settled as quickly, but we are doing a good job," he said.
"This is not the right time to be discussing our signings. But we do have good players, and we have too many injuries.
"We have signed very good players, we have a good team and a good squad.
Touching on the looming clash in Lyon, Benitez continued: "Losing would be bad for us, bad for the club, but we will keep going. But we are not thinking that way, we are only thinking of winning.
"In a few weeks these problems will have gone. Key players will be fit."
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