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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Benitez insists Gerrard will stay | Benitez insists Gerrard will stay |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has dismissed newspaper reports that Reds captain Steven Gerrard is unhappy at the club and may leave Anfield. | Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has dismissed newspaper reports that Reds captain Steven Gerrard is unhappy at the club and may leave Anfield. |
| Real Madrid have been linked to the midfielder, 26, but Benitez said: "It's clear I will not be selling my captain. | Real Madrid have been linked to the midfielder, 26, but Benitez said: "It's clear I will not be selling my captain. |
| "It is always a surprise to see such things that are not true. | "It is always a surprise to see such things that are not true. |
| "This week we have been talking with Steven. I feel he is really focused on the club and our idea is see him scoring goals for us for many years." | "This week we have been talking with Steven. I feel he is really focused on the club and our idea is see him scoring goals for us for many years." |
| News conference: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez | News conference: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez |
| Gerrard has spent the last week worrying about his six-month-old daughter Lexi, who has been in hospital recovering from symptoms similar to meningitis. | Gerrard has spent the last week worrying about his six-month-old daughter Lexi, who has been in hospital recovering from symptoms similar to meningitis. |
| Is Steven unhappy? You only needed to see him on Saturday to know the truth Rafael Benitez | Is Steven unhappy? You only needed to see him on Saturday to know the truth Rafael Benitez |
| Benitez explained: "We spoke and he was okay. We were talking about his daughter and how she is as well as team issues and how we can give the team more confidence." | Benitez explained: "We spoke and he was okay. We were talking about his daughter and how she is as well as team issues and how we can give the team more confidence." |
| And the Liverpool boss felt Gerrard's performance in Saturday's 3-1 win over Aston Villa showed he is settled and back to his best. | And the Liverpool boss felt Gerrard's performance in Saturday's 3-1 win over Aston Villa showed he is settled and back to his best. |
| "Against Villa he worked really hard, so to see this the following day is a surprise. It is disappointing that this is all that people can think of. | "Against Villa he worked really hard, so to see this the following day is a surprise. It is disappointing that this is all that people can think of. |
| "Is Steven unhappy? You only needed to see him on Saturday to know the truth. During the game he was happy - and afterwards too. Everybody enjoyed the day." | "Is Steven unhappy? You only needed to see him on Saturday to know the truth. During the game he was happy - and afterwards too. Everybody enjoyed the day." |
| 606: DEBATE He wants to win the Premiership, and Liverpool aren't showing signs they can do that Name Footy_Analysis 606: Have your say | |
| Benitez also insisted he is close to his captain, despite reports that Gerrard is unhappy with his role on the right of midfield. | Benitez also insisted he is close to his captain, despite reports that Gerrard is unhappy with his role on the right of midfield. |
| The former Valencia boss said: "I have not had just 'a word' with Steven, we talk many times, every day. | The former Valencia boss said: "I have not had just 'a word' with Steven, we talk many times, every day. |
| "He is my captain and we talk all the time, sometimes for a long time. To say anything else is crazy. | "He is my captain and we talk all the time, sometimes for a long time. To say anything else is crazy. |
| "I do not have any intention of selling my captain. | "I do not have any intention of selling my captain. |
| "We are only thinking of Tuesday's game against Bordeaux and qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League." | "We are only thinking of Tuesday's game against Bordeaux and qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League." |