Rafa: Goalposts moved at Anfield

Rafa: Goalposts moved at Anfield

Published May. 2, 2010 2:11 a.m. ET

Rafael Benitez has reportedly claimed that Liverpool have broken promises made to him before he signed a new five-year deal in 2009.

The Spaniard has admitted his future beyond the end of the current season is unclear, and has been quoted in several of Sunday's national newspapers as saying that the conditions at Anfield had changed since he agreed his new contract.

He said: "I decided to sign an extension because the squad was good and the money was going to be there. But the conditions changed.

"We've had a bad season and hopefully things will be different in the future, but at the moment I can't talk about the future because I don't know what's going on."

Benitez said a similar situation unfolded at Valencia, leading to him leaving the Spanish club for Liverpool in 2004.

"I left Valencia because conditions changed," he added.

"It was not a question of my money that I stayed at Liverpool. I said 'no' to other massive offers. I decided to stay under certain conditions and they have changed.

"The players share the same frustrations. I know how they feel because I've been talking to them all season. The season has not been good, that is clear. We know why and what has to change."

Benitez has been strongly linked with a move to Italian side Juventus this summer.

Liverpool were expected to challenge for the Premier League title this season but are five points behind Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualification with two games to play and crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday, ending their last chance of silverware this season.

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