"The Martin O'Neill saga has been going on for about 14 months now," said Houllier. "To be fair to him he phoned me. I am pleased that he did that. I value our relationship, as I told him.
"I also told him that in the English press there were no denials from him, nothing to say it was rubbish.
"At the time when the rumours were reaching their height, and in a very light hearted way I just said Martin must have very good friends in the press because his name keeps coming out.
"As I said maybe he has a very good agent. I know now that he has no agent by the way. I think maybe those light hearted comments had offended him. I am sorry about that but we have sorted it all out now and there is no problem. Everything is fine.
"In the first stage the rumours were irritating, then at the second stage it became extremely entertaining.
"I mean it got to the point where Sam Allardyce was being linked with my job last week. That was funny.
"Anyway as far as Martin O'Neill goes, I don't think the speculation about him and my job will come back again."