Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett insist that Rafael Benitez has their full support, after the startling admission they held talks with Jurgen Klinsmann.
Benitez will surely be alarmed about the revelation that the former Germany coach was sounded out about becoming the club’s next manager.
Hicks claims the talks would not have resulted in the immediate dismissal of the man who led the team to Champions League glory but that Klinsmann was “an insurance policy”.
Klinsmann is no longer an option, however, because he has agreed to take charge of Bayern Munich – and Hicks is adamant Benitez has the owners’ backing going into the second half of the season.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “After George and I had our long and productive meeting with Rafa following the Manchester United match, we put all of our issues behind us and received Rafa’s commitment that he wanted to stay with Liverpool.
“We never reached agreement on an option with Jurgen, and we are both pleased for him that he has a great opportunity to return to Germany and coach a great club team.
“Rafa has both of our support, and our communication has greatly improved.
“We attempted to negotiate an option as an insurance policy to have him [Klinsmann] become manager if Rafael left for Real Madrid or other clubs that were rumoured in the press – or in case our communication spiralled out of control for some reason.”
The article also claims that had Liverpool tumbled out of the Champions League, the owners would have tried to replace Benitez.
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