LIVERPOOL manager Rafa Benitez said he was surprised to hear talk of him leaving the club..
'I was very surprised today to hear rumours from Liverpool that I was going to resign.
'I can assure you that I have not been considering such a move, and it was a shock to hear such suggestions.'
Benitez has been locked in talks over a new four-year deal for several weeks, and it is believed owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have balked at some of the Spaniard's demands.
But Benitez remains certain an agreement will eventually be reached.
'I expect talks to continue between my lawyers, my advisors, myself and the owners,' he continued.
'I am really pleased with my position at the club, I have not been thinking about resigning.
'My aim is to win every game possible for this club, and my advisors will continue to talk. We will see what happens then.
'We are still talking, so we will see what happens in the future. Sometimes when something gets said (by fans) and it gets repeated and repeated it seems that people think it is true. But it wasn't true, I can assure you of that.
'I was not thinking about resigning, obviously I cannot control other things, that I could be fired, but I was just concentrating on the game.
'The fans need to know that I was not thinking of resigning. The club has made it clear this rumour was not true. That is important for everyone.
'Stability is the key if you want to be successful.'
A source close to the club said: 'Rafa is not going to be sacked, such suggestions are ridiculous.
'We are aware of the rumours and speculation that have been buzzing around in Madrid but it is just not true.'
The source added: 'This has not bothered the manager or the team. Everything we have done since we arrived in Madrid has been spot on.
'Nobody has even mentioned this and we are surprised that such suggestions have been raised. Rafa Benitez is not about to be sacked by Liverpool.'
