Rafa Benitez
insists 'it wasn't me' after Roy Hodgson
slams
former Liverpool
boss for
trying to sign Dirk Kuyt
I know nothing: Benitez insists signing players is
out of his hands at Inter Milan
Inter Milan coach Rafa Benitez has responded to
Liverpool's
claims that he had agreed not to poach players from Anfield
by insisting he is not responsible for signing players for the
Italian club.
Reds manager Roy Hodgson has said Benitez would be reneging on
an agreement not to raid Anfield for players if he pursued Dutch
forward Dirk Kuyt.
But Benitez, speaking in Monaco ahead of Friday's UEFA Super Cup
final between Inter and Atletico Madrid, ducked questions about any
agreement.
The Spaniard said: 'I am the coach and I cannot sign players -
that is for the technical director and the chairman.
'I am fine like this - I can focus on my work on the pitch and
that is all. I am the coach, not the manager.'
Hodgson had denied any knowledge of Kuyt wanting to leave
despite suggestions by his agent that talks between Liverpool and
Inter are continuing.
'Dirk has not expressed that sentiment to me,' said Hodgson, who
insisted the assurances he had received from Inter president
Massimo Moratti last week that the Italians were not intending to
buy any Liverpool players still held firm.
Man in the middle: Kuyt (centre) has been linked
with a move to Serie A
'When he left the club Rafael Benitez signed an
agreement that he would not poach players from
Liverpool.
'We haven't received an offer from any club so this is something
obviously going on behind the scenes, with the agent possibly
talking to the manager of Inter Milan.'
Benitez, who evaded further questions on the subject, will see
his side taking on the team supported by his father on Friday.
'It will be a tough game for us, they are a very talented team
with quality players and they have great offensive potential,' he
said.
