Ronnie Whelan has accused Rafael Benitez of prioritising the Champions League in order to secure a job abroad, and the Liverpool legend also believes the manager's "days are numbered" at Anfield.
Speculation is surrounding Benitez's position once more after Liverpool were defeated 3-1 by Fulham on Saturday. The loss at Craven Cottage was the club's sixth in seven games in all competitions and leaves them nine points off top spot with 11 games played.
With the score at 1-1, Benitez substituted Fernando Torres to general bemusement and later admitted that he had done so with Wednesday's Champions League game against Lyon in mind as the striker had been nursing a groin injury.
Whelan has used the incident as evidence for his theory that Benitez has already abandoned the league - a situation that would not sit well with Liverpool fans as Manchester United aim for a record 19th title this season.
"It's all gone wrong with the manager and he's shown exactly where his priorities lie,'' Whelan told RTE Television. "He wants to win the European Cup so he can get a job in Europe. For me, his days have got to be numbered at Liverpool.
"He's taken players off who are the only players who are going to give you a chance of winning the game. And he drags them all off because he's got a game on Wednesday.
"When I saw the team I thought he's not bothered about this game. He's putting all his eggs in one basket and I can't see why he's done it."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=692820&sec=england&cc=5739
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Conspiracy Theory / bollox or truth?
Speculation is surrounding Benitez's position once more after Liverpool were defeated 3-1 by Fulham on Saturday. The loss at Craven Cottage was the club's sixth in seven games in all competitions and leaves them nine points off top spot with 11 games played.
With the score at 1-1, Benitez substituted Fernando Torres to general bemusement and later admitted that he had done so with Wednesday's Champions League game against Lyon in mind as the striker had been nursing a groin injury.
Whelan has used the incident as evidence for his theory that Benitez has already abandoned the league - a situation that would not sit well with Liverpool fans as Manchester United aim for a record 19th title this season.
"It's all gone wrong with the manager and he's shown exactly where his priorities lie,'' Whelan told RTE Television. "He wants to win the European Cup so he can get a job in Europe. For me, his days have got to be numbered at Liverpool.
"He's taken players off who are the only players who are going to give you a chance of winning the game. And he drags them all off because he's got a game on Wednesday.
"When I saw the team I thought he's not bothered about this game. He's putting all his eggs in one basket and I can't see why he's done it."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=692820&sec=england&cc=5739
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Conspiracy Theory / bollox or truth?
