Liverpool FC Forum

s@int wrote:Benitez better than expected - Gillett
02/05/2007 - 15:07:10 

Liverpool’s new co-owner George Gillett has admitted he and partner Tom Hicks had no idea how good a manager Rafael Benitez was when they bought the club for nearly £500m (€730m).

The American sports mogul, together with Hicks, watched Liverpool’s incredible Champions League semi-final triumph over Chelsea at Anfield last night and then hailed the Spanish coach who has taken the club to their second European Cup final in three seasons.

After the penalty shoot-out victory Gillett was seen hugging and kissing fans who besieged the directors’ box.

He even walked into the crowd, shaking hands and embracing everyone in sight as he was mobbed by delirious fans, who are now eagerly awaiting Liverpool’s seventh European Cup final as they bid to win the trophy for an amazing sixth time in Athens on May 23.

But when the uproar had died down, Gillett revealed his dedication to the Benitez cause, saying: “We knew he was good – but not this good!”

Gillett revealed he and his co-chairman have been blown away by the quality of the manager they have inherited.

“Rafa has been tremendous. My sons and I followed the sport here before we came; we knew about Rafa Benitez and what he had done in Europe.

“We knew of him but I don’t think we realised how good he was, and not just as a coach.

“Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. He knows what he wants and how to get it.

“The more we have seen of him the more impressed we have become. We have talked money but that is not the main point. We have discovered that the way people operate privately is not always the same as in public.

“We will be supporting him during the summer but it is not about money, it is about athletes and giving people opportunities.”

Gillett, revealed his reaction last night was prompted by the warmth of support he had received from fans since the takeover and that he would definitely be at the Champions League final later this month.

“You bet I will be in Athens, I have seen some marvellous games already in Europe and that will be another,” he said.

“I have worked in the States for many years but football in Europe is like any other sport I have seen but on steroids!”







He added: “I am hugely impressed by the way myself and my family have been received here, it is truly wonderful, that is why I wanted to share the moment with the fans.

“They are amazing. Everywhere Tom and I go it is the same, people are pleased and so welcoming. I wanted to shake their hands, to embrace them at the end because they had been magnificent for their team.

“It is all about them, it is not about us. The success since we have been here has been marvellous, I just wanted to thank them. I suppose chairmen don’t do that sort of thing usually but it is just how I feel about them.”

And while Gillett was gleefully enjoying the moment, Hicks was making it very clear the new stadium plans are close to being unveiled and that he has no intention of allowing any of the club’s star names – particularly Steven Gerrard - to leave.

“And as far as keeping our players, that is ongoing too. We have sat down with Rafa a few times now and know what he wants,” he said.

“But I cannot imagine Steven Gerrard playing for anybody else but Liverpool. He will be here for a long time – we have already been speaking to his agent and those of our best players.”

He added: “On the new stadium, we will honour the plans already in place but things are being changed. We have talked to people and we do not want to start over with the plans again.

“So far we have worked on its insides, the outside is next, but we are near to being able to announce our new plans.

“We have to compete with Manchester United who can get over 70,000 in their stadium, while Arsenal’s new ground has 60,000, and with London prices.

“Liverpool has a unique market. We have a huge waiting list of fans wanting to buy tickets so we want a bigger stadium than the one previously envisaged.

Chief executive Rick Parry was equally overjoyed at the prospect of another European final, and said: “I did not expect to see anything that would be as good as 2005 when we beat Chelsea at this stage before but we got it this time.

“On the stadium, we are close to unveiling our new plans and a lot of work is currently going on to make the new stadium even bigger and even better. That is really exciting.”

future looks bright 

Rafa-Dodd wrote:Gillett and Hicks are both boss. I am lucky enough to sit about 3 rows directly in front of them both and I always shake their hand and spy to see what there both up to in the matches.

I remember when we scored yesterday I looked round and saw them hugging each other and jumping up and down like every other Liverpool fan in the place. They also gave the big 5 times sign to Chelsea fans and Hicks put 6 up to us when we pointed it out.

Gillett's son was there as well and I was very pleased to see him put on a HJC sticker when handed one by a fan. Good lad.

The futures very bright. I am really, really glad that DIC pulled out as although its early, I think we have two special people on board here now at Anfield.

Replied to your begging letters then did they