Reina Will Leave Reds If Benítez is Forced Out of Anfield

Liverpool's goalkeeper Jose Reina has said he would consider leaving Liverpool if Rafael Benítez departs in the summer. "I can't imagine being at Liverpool without Rafael Benítez," Reina said.

He added that, although his contract was with Liverpool, he owed "a lot to Rafa because he was the one who trusted me, brought me to Liverpool and supported me, and of course the mutual affection is there. We will have to wait. Like I say, my contract is with Liverpool but, if the coach moves and there is the possibility of me joining him, if he coaches another team, of course I would think about that."

The manager's future has been in doubt since it was revealed that meetings were held with the former Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann with a view to him replacing Benítez at the end of the season. The situation worsened recently when Benítez, who arrived at the club in 2003, discovered that Liverpool's chief executive, Rick Parry, had been involved in what he believed were meetings held behind his back.

Reina joined Liverpool in 2005 from Villarreal and helped the club win the FA Cup that season. He atoned for earlier errors in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to deny West Ham United a winner in the 119th minute. His effort took the match, which ended 3-3, to a penalty shoot-out which Liverpool won 3-1 with Reina making three saves.

Reina added that Benítez should remain at Anfield as he was building something big, proved by the fact that the club are fighting to play in their third Champions League final in four years.

"The Liverpool project is based upon the way of working of the coach," he said. "Rafa is building something that is growing each year and the results are there. We will have reached three finals in four years if we are lucky against Chelsea, which is very impressive. Every year we have a better team and are more competitive. With an idea and philosophy of the game he has tried to find the best players. It is a project for the medium or long term."