Benitez demands answers over future

LONDON, England -- Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly held trans-Atlantic discussions with the club's American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over his future at Anfield.

Benitez left Anfield after his side's 3-1 win over Blackburn on Sunday intent on an exchange of e-mails with the U.S. duo after it emerged that chief executive Rick Parry was party to meetings last year with Jurgen Klinsmann.

The former Germany manager was being lined up as a possible replacement for Benitez at the time that his relationship with the owners was at an all-time low.

But according to the UK Press Association Benitez claims he only learned at the weekend from media reports that Parry had attended meetings in the U.S. with Klinsmann and his advisors 'on instruction' from the club's owners.

The Spaniard was clearly furious after the Blackburn victory having discovered who was involved in what he believed were meetings behind his back.

Benitez insisted that he would be discussing the situation with his agent, aware that Valencia, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid are interested in his services.

The answers he receives from the owners will dictate his position at the end of the season, but first he is planning for the Champions League semifinals with Chelsea.

Benitez is intent on winning the trophy for the second time for the Reds, but is clearly concerned regarding who was party to the meetings with Klinsmann and his advisors.

"I am surprised at things I have read, I need some clarification about a meeting that took place involving a lot of people that I did now know about," he said. "I need to ask questions and I want some answers. I want to clarify things. I am really calm, but I want answers."

Liverpool's weekend win further cemented their grip on fourth spot to take a five-point lead over Everton with just four games left.

But Benitez had his pleasure at the result soured by yet more boardroom problems.

"What concerned me was the people who were in the meeting, that was a surprise. We -- the coaching staff and the players -- are professionals and we know we must be focused on football, and we will try to do this.

"It is not affecting the players. They are winning and they know we must finish in the top four and progress in the Champions League. We must stay focused on football." E-mail to a friend