Hicks warns Rafa

Last updated : 24 November 2007 By Al Campbell
Benitez upset the Liverpool chairmen this week when he criticised the American duo in a press conference and hinted he was unhappy about the delay in preparing the signing of new players. However, Tom Hicks has hit back and told Benitez to stop talking about new players and start coaching the players he already has.

"After the Champions League final in Athens, Rafa made certain demands of us and we responded to those demands in the summer," the co-chairman told the Liverpool Echo yesterday.

"We brought in some good players and spent more money than has ever been spent before at this club.

"We now have some crucial games coming up in the Premier League and the Champions League and we want to see if we can win these games with the players we have.

"This was the message we gave to Rafa recently and I think during the international break he must have grown a bit frustrated about this.

"We told him to concentrate on the games coming up and nothing else and I guess he didn't like that.

"But, for the time being, we just need to be focused on what happens on the pitch.

"George and I will be over in mid-December and that is the time to talk about other issues. It is really time for Rafa to quit talking about new players and to coach the players we have."