Rafa Benitez Not So Confident Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano Will Stay Put

Rafa Benitez has taken his time, but finally last year his Liverpool side challenged for the Barclays Premier League. One hopes they will once again challenge in '09-'10 in what will be, if you believe some Manchester City fans, a five-way race for the title.

News reports today, however, claimed Rafa was calling on loyalty from his star midfielders Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano with Real Madrid and Barcelona sniffing around respectively for their services.

Reading between the Lines

When looking at such a story, it is important to read exactly what was said and compare it to what exactly is being claimed by the headline, as it is not always one and the same.

And after reading exactly what Rafa said, I think he has walked right into this one, adding yet more speculation to an industry already in overdrive and heaped more worries on his club and its fans.

The Spanish coach was very abrupt in his claims that the Argentine Mascherano and Spaniard Alonso were not for sale, as they were under contract and Liverpool were not interested in selling. And that would have been great, had he managed to close his mouth right there.

I believe, like many people, that players should be loyal to signed contracts, but as we all know there is very little loyalty in professional football.

Doubts Set In

So a day after his best player Steven Gerrard signed a contract which will likely see him finish a one-club career with the Reds in 2013 (it is extremely unlikely there will be much more loyalty at Anfield, judging by the law of averages of course) Benitez went on to unravel everything he had originally claimed.

The former Valencia coach followed on from his abruptness with what was close to a teary eyed plea to his midfield duo.

"We made you what you are" and the "we took a chance on you" are lines I’m sure Sir Alex Ferguson was plugging behind closed doors at Old Trafford these past two summers, and presumably the same is said at many other clubs across the world during every transfer window.

The key being "behind closed doors."

Confident or Not

Had Rafa stopped at "the players are under contract" he would have stopped me and many more in the media having anything to say.

Instead, we are left with as many doubts about the futures of Alonso and Mascherano as we had when Benitez was first asked the question.

In truth, he and Liverpool are not confident about the situation and the last thing they need is to lose key players after what has been a breakthrough year.

And it is a sad state of affairs if a club like Liverpool, in a position like they are in, cannot inspire loyalty from players favoured by coaches, fans, and teammates alike.

So Rafa, the fans don’t want to hear you pleading; they want strong dependable leadership. The next time a journalist asks you a question as to the future of any of your star players, tell the world your player is staying and leave it at that.

Who knows? With a bit of luck, even the player himself might believe you.