Rafael Benitez`s future with Inter Milan in doubt
Baku, December 22 (AZERTAC). Rafael Benitez`s future as Inter Milan manager is in serious doubt after the Italian club described the current situation as "a mess".
Former Liverpool boss Benitez led Inter to Club World Cup victory on Saturday, but they are seventh in Serie A after winning the last five titles.
Benitez denied that he had been sacked on Monday amid reports to the contrary.
Inter president Massimo Moratti could not clarify the situation on Wednesday but said discussions were ongoing.
"We are trying to understand what`s going on, this situation is a bit of a mess," said Moratti. "Everything that happened was a bit unexpected, we are considering every point of view."
And asked about the timing of any official announcement, he added: "Nothing is expected today."
Benitez led European champions Inter to a 3-0 win over TP Mazembe in Saturday`s Club World Cup final in in Abu Dhabi before urging Inter`s board to back him.
"There are three possibilities for the club," said the Spaniard. "One, 100% support for the coach and buy four or five players to build a stronger team with competition among the players to be able to carry on winning matches and trophies.
"Two, carry on like this without a project, without planning, and go ahead with one person to blame, for the whole season.
"The third," he added, "is to speak to my agent to reach an agreement if there is not this support. Simple."
Despite stating Benitez`s comments "were not suitable for the situation", Moratti praised Inter`s coach for the way he masterminded the Club World Cup win.
"For the moment the Inter fans are happy," said Moratti. "It is not the moment to ask for reinforcements."
Under former coach Jose Mourinho last season, Inter won the Serie A title, the Italian Cup and the Champions League.
However, they are well off the pace in this season`s Serie A, having have won only one of their last six league games, and they go into Italian`s football`s winter break 13 points behind leaders and city rivals AC Milan.
Inter do have two games in hand on the teams above them and next play on 6 January at home to Napoli.
Although Benitez can point to injuries to key players for his team`s plight, he is under pressure barely seven months after Moratti appointed him to succeed Mourinho, with former AC Milan coach Leonardo widely tipped as a possible successor.
But asked about the Brazilian coach on Wednesday, Moratti said: "I haven`t met Leonardo."
And Mourinho, a former Premier League rival of Benitez when the Portuguese was in charge of Chelsea, ruled out any possibility of making a swift return to the San Siro.
"I have a four-year contract with Real Madrid, and I`m going to continue here for a long time," Mourinho told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
"There are many things to do in Madrid, and not only on-field work. I hope that Inter don`t need me now, as this would mean they have taken the wrong path.
"In my future it will be the Premier League or Italy. Problems at Real Madrid? I never have problems."
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