Here to stay: Benitez gestures to onlookers after
arriving back in Milan from Abu Dhabi
Rafa Benitez has come
out fighting for his job and claims he has made Inter Milan more
entertaining than under Jose Mourinho's uber-successful
regime.
The Spaniard, speaking from
Liverpool where he is spending the Christmas holidays, dismissed
reports that he had been sacked after publicly challenging club
president Massimo Moratti to back him in the transfer
market.
Sources told Sportsmail that Benitez would be axed
this week, while Milan-based Gazzetta dello Sport echoed that the
decision had already been taken, with thoughts turning to who would
take over the hot seat.
However, Benitez told Spanish
radio station Onda Cero: 'I have not been sacked. I am quite
surprised by some of the headlines I read in the papers. In fact,
many people called me to ask whether I was sacked, but it is not
true.'
The former Liverpool boss has
even been brave enough to repeat his call for new signings when the
transfer window opens in January, though Moratti refused to respond
to calls for 'three or four' additions at the weekend.
Expect fireworks: Inter players celebrate winning the
Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi
'My plan was to add a
few more players useful for us, younger players for the future and
in a couple of years reduce the mountain of salaries we pay
currently,' explained Benitez. 'People told me that this was the
best football they had seen Inter play for 20
years.
'We are like the Barcelona of
Italy. But to continue to win and do well, you need to make
important purchases.
'The injuries have affected us,
and we don't want this to happen again. As the market will start
soon, this was the right time to speak openly about
buying.'
Moratti responded with a 'no
comment' when leaving Abu Dhabi, where Inter won the Club World Cup
on Saturday and followed it up with a statement to that effect on
the Inter website today.
Champions of the world: Inter fans celebrate in Milan's
Duomo square after their team's success
Former Roma coach
Luciano Spalletti is the favourite for his job after leading Zenit
St Petersburg to the Russian Premier League title and six wins out
of six in their Europa League group. England boss Fabio Capello is
also a candidate Moratti has tried to snare
before.
Benitez said: 'I don't want to
put the president under pressure, but I had spoken to him in the
past about my project. Moratti, with whom I have a correct and
respectful relationship, liked it.
'The president has to take a
decision regarding the line we want to follow. While I am here (at
Inter) I will work in the best possible way in order for the team
to continue to win.'
Jose Mourinho won the European
Cup along with an Italian League and Cup double, while Benitez's
Inter are languishing seventh in Serie A and finished second in
their Champions League group behind Tottenham.
However, the club have suffered
an injury crisis and Benitez has blamed the poor physical shape of
his players.
