About all that Liverpool spending madness...
Gillett backing Benítez but no 'spending like a drunken sailor'
The Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has moved to allay any fears that the lack of transfer activity at the club to date this summer is generating a schism between the hierarchy and the manager, Rafael Benítez, though he warned that he and Tom Hicks would not be "spending like a drunken sailor" in the weeks ahead.
The Merseysiders have tied down six key personnel at the club to new long-term deals but, despite signing five squad or promising young players, have yet to demonstrate any real clout in the market. Benítez was at pains in the wake of the defeat to Milan in the European Cup final last month to suggest that major signings would be needed if the club was to continue developing, with the lack of movement so far prompting some concern.
"I read that Rafa [Benítez] is throwing hand grenades at us and making demands, that there's a tension or disagreement between him and the Gillett and Hicks families," said Gillett. "Nothing could be farther from the truth. As far back as February, Rafa laid out a programme for us. Each one of our sports businesses has a core concept. You can't just flop around looking at opportunities here and there, go left, go right.
"It has to be part of an integrated plan. We have one at Liverpool, as we have with the [Montreal] Canadiens, one we understand 100%, believe in and support. The plan involves us spending money, but it will be part of a plan, not just spending like a drunken sailor. Ice hockey and soccer are all about teamwork, and Rafa believes in that very strongly. It's the same in almost all of life - it's about partnership, teamwork and communication. It's not all about money."
Benítez is understood to be tempering his initial aspirations - a B-list of targets has effectively been drawn up - with bigger purchases reliant upon sales being made. There is interest in the Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito, though any move for a forward is only likely to materialise should Craig Bellamy be sold, with hope retained that the Lyon midfielder Florent Malouda can be secured.
Regardless, Gillett appears to have enjoyed his first few months in charge of Liverpool despite seeing the team slip to defeat in Athens. "In all candour, the Gillett and Hicks families have to say we've been pretty lucky to arrive on the scene and enjoy this first-season success," he added. "It's heady and a lot of fun, but it sure would be a mistake for us to try to act like we had anything to do with it. "This is the work of [the former chairman] David Moores, [the chief executive] Rick Parry and Rafa and the players. We were the fortunate beneficiaries of circumstance."
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