Parry: 'Steve's future here at Anfield'

Liverpool Echo, 31 Jan 2005

Exclusive by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL chief executive Rick Parry believes Rafa Benitez's achievement in leading his side to his first major final will be the first step in creating a new era at Anfield.

Parry, who today dismissed claims of a secret deal to take Steven Gerrard to Chelsea as 'a complete fabrication', says Benitez has shown within a limited period why he was the perfect appointment.

And it Is Benitez's skills which make the club confident they can still convince their skipper his future is on Merseyside, despite Chelsea's well-documented interest.

Parry said today: "Reaching the League Cup final last week was what you could call the highlight of a classic week, given the disappointments of
the previous few days.

"The League Cup was a springboard for success in 2001 and gave the supporters a great day in 2003. Hopefully we can repeat that again.

"For Rafa to reach a major final in his first season is a great achievement, and no-one at Liverpool would belittle that.

"At the same time, while there was a lot of guff written following our FA Cup exit, even though we're all absolutely delighted to be going to
Cardiff, we will not be deflected from our primary objective which is success in the Premiership and Champions League."

It's clear many Anfield officials are still smarting following some fierce criticism in the aftermath of defeats to Burnley and Southampton.

Parry believes Benitez's initial impact when he enjoyed some notable scalps may have increased expectations about what could be achieved during his debut season.

"It's not just the fact we've reached a major final which has made Rafa's start so impressive," said Parry..

"It's the whole package and all the work he's done since he arrived. It's possible some of the results he achieved early raised expectations a bit too early.

"During the summer, everyone was talking about this being a season of transition and stressed how the new manager needed time. It seems to me this all went out of the window last week and suddenly we are in a 'crisis' again. The common sense had gone."

Liverpool were seeking legal advice today following an article in the Mail on Sunday which claimed a secret deal to take Gerrard to Chelsea was already agreed.

Later editions of the newspaper removed the claim.

Parry released a statement on liverpoolfc.tv yesterday reiterating the club's position, insisting not only had no meetings with Chelsea taken place, but Liverpool would do everything in their power to keep Gerrard.

While the skipper will clearly face another dilemma in the summer, the suggestion his mind is already made up is untrue.

With Liverpool in a major final, still in the Champions League and led by a impressive manager, there is still much which can happen to leave Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon cursing yet another rejection.

Parry told the ECHO: "The story which appeared yesterday was a complete fabrication.

"Our position with regards Steven is exactly the same. Rafa and I only reiterated to him last week we want to build a side around him."