Rafael Benitez has vowed to stay at Liverpool as calls for the Spaniard to be axed for his failure to qualify for the Champions League continue to be heard. Benitez was provoked into an impassioned speech over his future ahead of the 212th Merseyside derby clash at Everton on Sunday.
The post at Madrid was clearly on his mind when he said: "When I signed my new contract I had offers from other clubs for more money, and a lot more money to spend in the transfer market. But I decided to stay because I felt we had a very good team.
"We will prove this during the rest of the season. It is long race and we know we are not playing at the level we can, but we will improve, we will be back in Europe.
"It doesn't matter what people are saying, maybe trying to take advantage of the situation. We will win games, we will improve and things will change."
He added: "When I decided to stay here, I knew that we could be facing a difficult season. I was aware that a lot of things could happen and the competition stronger. But I decided to stay because I wanted to.
"Look, I was a Real Madrid fan. I knew off by heart the names of the Real Madrid team that played Liverpool in the European Cup final of 1981.
"I was a fan, and also a Madrid player at that time. Now, considering that, I decided to stay in Liverpool because I liked the city, I liked the fans, I liked the life here and the passion in the Premier League.
"Why am I telling you this? Because when I decided to stay here, I wanted to fight for this club.
"I had signed a new five-year contract because I wanted to fight for Liverpool.
"Sometimes it is good, sometimes there are bad moments. But still I will fight.
"So we will play in the Europa League, that will be a target. We will play against Everton on Sunday and that will be our target.
"Every single week we will fight and try to win. If we can, we will be happier. If we cannot, we will still have to fight."
