Benitez asked why his "silhouette" has changed in past five years.
By Alan Dawson
25-Feb-2010 8:26:00 AM
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez became embroiled in a bizarre pre-match press conference when Romanian journalists appeared to berate the Spaniard over his weight, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The Reds boss was fielding questions relating to the club's concluding Europa League tie with Unirea Urziceni, yet reporters from Romania sought to get a rise out of the unswervingly diplomatic Benitez.
When probed as to whether Liverpool were underestimating Unirea, he said: "Not at all. I just had to work out what would be the best preparation for the team, and I just felt that working on formations and set-pieces at Melwood before, rather than after, a three-hour flight would be the right option.
"As for after the game, if it goes to extra-time, the plane will wait, because it is a charter. Don't make the mistake of thinking we are taking anything for granted," he warned.
He was then asked for his thoughts about chants from the terraces predicting his sacking in the morning.
"I don't listen to them. When you are on the sidelines, watching your team, you are not aware of anything else. You are in the zone and concentrating only on what is happening on the pitch. Anyway, I don't always understand. My English still isn't all that good." Toward's the end of the conference, one reporter opted for a more personal approach.
"The last time I saw you, Mr Benitez, was at the 2005 Champions' League final, and your, erm, silhouette seems to have changed since then. Why is that?" One bold journalist asked.
"It is the stress of having to answer so many questions from the press. Thank you and goodnight."
Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic 'to adopt euro in 2015' - analysts
The Greek financial turmoil could postpone admission of emerging European countries into the eurozone, according to a poll by Reuters among 44 leading analysts.
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland could adopt the single currency in 2015, with Estonia standing the best chances, expected to lead the pack in 2011.
In autumn 2009, analysts predicted the Baltic country would adopt the euro in 2012.
European policymakers will measure euro aspirants against the Maastricht adoption criteria with a new intensity, according to the poll.
"The euro zone countries will want to be absolutely sure that they are not bringing a new 'Greece' to the club," said Diego Iscaro, economist with Ihs Global Insight.
Other analysts say it is not a matter of who will join the club but who will pack up and leave.
The poll showed that only Estonia will stick to its guns to join the eurozone after finance minister Jurgen Ligi last week announced he expects the country will adopt the euro in 2011.
The analysts singled out keeping budget deficit beneath the three per cent cap as the toughest challenge facing aspirants.
Poland, the region’s best performer, run up a shortfall of 7.2 per cent of GDP, jeopardising the government’s ERM-II target of 2012.
The most daunting challenge facing Bulgaria and Romania is reining in inflation.
Source: Dnevnik.bg
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland could adopt the single currency in 2015, with Estonia standing the best chances, expected to lead the pack in 2011.
In autumn 2009, analysts predicted the Baltic country would adopt the euro in 2012.
European policymakers will measure euro aspirants against the Maastricht adoption criteria with a new intensity, according to the poll.
"The euro zone countries will want to be absolutely sure that they are not bringing a new 'Greece' to the club," said Diego Iscaro, economist with Ihs Global Insight.
Other analysts say it is not a matter of who will join the club but who will pack up and leave.
The poll showed that only Estonia will stick to its guns to join the eurozone after finance minister Jurgen Ligi last week announced he expects the country will adopt the euro in 2011.
The analysts singled out keeping budget deficit beneath the three per cent cap as the toughest challenge facing aspirants.
Poland, the region’s best performer, run up a shortfall of 7.2 per cent of GDP, jeopardising the government’s ERM-II target of 2012.
The most daunting challenge facing Bulgaria and Romania is reining in inflation.
Source: Dnevnik.bg
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