Antoine has logged a second poll to check on the fans feelings towards our Manager and it seems to me that the majority of Liverpool fans want the Spanish tactician to stay. Many will probably fear the prospect of him leaving and taking some of our jewels with him. Antoine is an admirable defender of Benitez and a true unconditional Liverpool fan, but I have a feeling that we have arrived at a stage where this decision will be ultimately up to him, Rafa Benitez, and no one else.
I have a gut feeling that if the Reds do not win the Europa League and/or clinch 4th spot, the Spanish Master will concede ‘defeat’ and resign. This would be the result of a season which departed with promise and great expectations and which finds us depending on the results of others to play CL football next season, and having to make-do (so to speak!) with a possible Europa League triumph when the real objective was another assault at winning the Champions League. It’s really a question of being coherent with one self and of course, being a gentleman.
Big European clubs are chasing the Spaniard and waiting on his decisions. His recent ‘No comment’ to questions regarding his link to Juventus may be political, but he has not categorically denied (like he had done a month or so ago) the link and that he is committed to Liverpool. Can we blame him? This man has ‘guarantee’ Champions League football to his Liverpool squad and supporters! Should he stay on if he fails?
Personally, I don’t see any Messiah on the horizon…..or anyone that can turn our team into a PL and CL force over the summer. It isn’t even a question of H&G anymore. Okay money talks, but we have a squad that is envied by everyone player for player. We do have quality, and we have seen that you don’t have to spend mega money to have decent players. We don’t need to revolutionize our team, we need a bit more ‘kwality’ in one two/positions and a deeper squad with ‘kwality’ subs that can maintain a high level of expectancy and delivery even when our megastars are not available.
In essence, I feel that the final decision now rests with Rafa! Anfield has shown a lot of patience and a lot of love for the Manager. Rafa will wait and see. If Rafa is not our Manager next season it will not because the Club has asked him to leave, it will be because the man will feel he has let the fans down.