Rafael Benitez today vowed to stay faithful to Liverpool and remain at the club for next season - by which time he expects Harry Kewell to be making a big impact at Anfield.
The Spaniard dismissed reports linking himself with Real Madrid as rumours and also stressed that injury-plagued Kewell would be back in action within weeks.
The Liverpool boss, preparing for Sunday's crunch derby against neighbours Everton, has faced a tough week. Doubts have been raised about his own future as well as Kewell's, while Liverpool failed miserably to eat into Everton's commanding lead over the Reds in the race for Champions League qualification.
The goalless home draw with Blackburn yesterday has left Liverpool still seven points adrift of Everton, a big enough problem for Benitez without the link to Madrid and Kewell's troubles.
Benitez served the Spanish giants for over 20 years as player and youth coach.
But today he stated: "I want to say clearly, I have a deal with Liverpool and I am very happy here and grateful to the supporters and the board. My idea is to be here next season and to win trophies with Liverpool. People talk a lot, and there are always rumours about Spain. But I see and hear the people here, the supporters."
"I am grateful to them for their support, as well as the board's. I am very happy here and want to win trophies with Liverpool next season. And I am not thinking about the future, I am only thinking about three points and reducing the gap on Everton. I do not like to hear rumours, I want to make it clear I have a deal with Liverpool and want to stay here to win trophies. "
The problems with Kewell's succession of injuries has also rumbled on with the player reacting angrily to suggestions that he has made too much of them.
Kewell said: "For anyone to say I have been putting on an act over the injuries is plain ridiculous and wrong. Who in their right mind would not want to finish a Carling Cup final or play in the Champions League?"
Benitez has sent Kewell to two specialists recently to try to cure the midfielder's ankle, groin and Achilles injuries, having expressed his annoyance that the player was unable to travel last week to Germany for the Bayer Leverkusen match.
Now Benitez says: "I was surprised by what I have read about him, the player wants to be fit and we want the best for him and we are working together. I am sure he will play for Liverpool again this season, we are happy with the situation and are working towards finding a solution to his problems."
