Rafael Benítez last night used Liverpool’s official club website to fervently deny any contact, or interest, in the soon to be vacant managerial post at Juventus. The Turin club sacked Ciro Ferrara last week, appointing former AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni as a temporary replacement until the end of the season. Since Ferrara’s departure, rumours have been rife regarding Benítez’s future at Anfield, with La Repubblica reporting on Saturday that terms had been agreed between Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc and Benitez’s representatives. However, last night the Liverpool manager stated

“I want to make it absolutely clear I have no agreement with Juventus and have not and will not be meeting Juventus or their representatives or any other club.”

Whilst unequivocally denying any contact with the Italian club, Benitez could simply be using the Juventus link to, rather than consolidate his position at Anfield, provoke the Liverpool owners into releasing or acquiring more funds for transfers this summer.

Benitez failed to totally distance himself from Juventus in a pre-match press conference on Friday, telling journalists that he was ‘proud’ to be linked with Italy’s Old Lady. In one sense, the tactics deployed by the Spaniard could be aimed at securing his position as Liverpool boss by appealing to Liverpool supporters who would be saddened to see the former Valencia manager leave the club. Despite being at its lowest ebb since he arrived at the club, Benitez’s stock remains surprisingly high amongst the red half of Merseyside. Before the home match with Tottenham, Liverpool supporters demonstrated their support for the manager as the squad entered the stadium, with goalkeeper Pepe Reina reportedly moved to tears. Despite risking the wrath of less sympathetic Liverpool fans, Benitez may be using the Juventus link to demonstrate to the owners the sway he still holds with the Anfield faithful.

A more cynical reason for Benitez’s actions however, may be to force the Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to dip into their pockets. Benitez followed the statement that he was ‘proud’ to be linked to the Juventus post by once again reminding us of the financial constraints placed upon the club,

“We are working very hard in the [financial] conditions that we have at this moment. We have some money that we did not have before because we sold some players. I think we have a new investor or maybe more people coming this year and the possibility of a new stadium is a big boost for everyone here…We have to trust and have the belief that they will happen”.

Despite Benitez’s denial that he is interested in the Juventus role, the fact that the affair has been conducted in public is something that Benitez may be trying to work in his favour. The Liverpool supporters may exert more pressure on the Liverpool co-chairman to find the funds to make it possible for Benitez to once again challenge for top honours domestically and in Europe.