Benitez: Back me or sack me

Rafael Benitez issued a back me or sack me ultimatum to Inter Milan after guiding the club to victory in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Inter dispatched African side TP Mazembe 3-0 on Saturday to claim their fifth trophy of 2010, but they are already 13 points behind leaders AC Milan in Serie A.

Benitez is widely rumoured to be in line for the sack if results do not improve, and the Spaniard used the victory in Abu Dhabi as an opportunity to demand reinforcements.

“My relationship with the chairman is good, but I ask the club for help and respect,” Benitez said.

“They did not come up with the goods after what they told me in the summer about signings and so it’s not easy.”

“There are three possibilities for the club.”

“One; 100 percent support for the coach and buy four or five players to build a stronger team with competition among the players to be able to carry on winning matches and trophies.”

“Two; carry on like this without a project, without planning, and go ahead with one person to blame, for the whole season.”

“The third is to speak to my agent to reach an agreement if there is not this support. Simple.”

It remains to be seen if Inter President Massimo Moratti will stick with the former Liverpool and Valencia manager, but the 66-year-old owner refused to make any immediate concessions.

“It’s not the moment to ask for reinforcements,” Moratti.