Benitez gets Gillett backing

(GSM) – Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has backed Reds boss Rafael Benitez by stating that he is one of the top five managers in the world with the ongoing season’s disappointing results being nothing more than just a “blip”.

The Merseyside club have endured a difficult campaign so far and have fallen well off the pace in the Premier League, compounded by early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup.

With Benitez has been unmoved in his belief that he will turn things around, the Spaniard now has received the backing of Gillett.

That is significant as Gillett has always been seen as less enthusiastic in his support for the Spaniard than fellow co-owner Tom Hicks, who has been behind Benitez from the moment the two Americans’ relationship began to become strained.

“We believe if you were to put a list together of the top five coaches, managers in the world, he would definitely be on that list for us,” said Gillett, who was united in his agreement with Hicks to give Benitez an improved five-year contract towards the end of last season.

“And we think he’s been tossed a curve ball by circumstance, injuries and so forth.

“I think that’s been a real challenge to the coach. He’s had to really make some innovations and play some players out of position and so forth.

“And notwithstanding that, they’ve generally played with a lot of passion. I really believe it’s a blip.”

Injuries have certainly compounded Liverpool’s problems with striker Fernando Torres, captain Steven Gerrard, right-back Glen Johnson and midfielder Yossi Benayoun all currently sidelined.

But they have also been unlucky in other areas, such as when a beach ball on the pitch at Sunderland back in October contributed to the only goal of the game for the Black Cats.

“That was a real low blow,” Gillett told Canadian radio station Prime Time Sports.

“He (Benitez) has had a struggle getting the morale of the boys back up but we’ve got a great group of young men.”