Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett sounded out Jurgen Klinsmann
about becoming the club's next manager, according to a report.
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, as he has agreed to take charge of
Bayern Munich.
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.
However, Benitez steered the team through with a crucial victory against
Marseille in France.
Klinsmann's name has been linked with Liverpool since November.
It is believed to be the root cause of Benitez's testy media conference then
when he had been told to concentrate on running his team by the owners.
Despite the backing of the owners, winning the FA Cup may be the minimum
requirement for Benitez to stay in his job come the summer.
Liverpool face Coca-Cola League One Luton in a replay at Anfield tomorrow -
and Benitez knows defeat is not an option.
Yet another depressing draw at Middlesbrough on Saturday - they have won just
three of their last 10 - has seen the Spaniard come in for more criticism.
He said: 'From our point of view, we want to win the FA Cup again. It is a
fantastic competition, and we will put out our strongest team and hope to
progress to the next round.
'We still want to win the title, but also we want to win the FA Cup as well.
'I know it will be a different Luton side. They have lost players now, so we
know it will be more difficult for them - but they will still try their hardest
to win.'
Benitez could well give a debut to new centre-back Martin Skrtel, but he is
unlikely to take the slightest risk with the rest of his team.
The prospect of Swansea or Havant and Waterlooville at home in the next round
presents a golden opportunity to reach the fifth round without any further
scares.
He said: 'I am positive about our chances against Luton. We will be at
Anfield, and I know we are in a much better position than some other Premier
League clubs who have already been knocked out!
'They have problems, I understand. But we are still talking about the FA Cup,
and it can be a very difficult competition for any big club against any sort of
lower-division opposition.'
