The big question is: Who exactly is in charge of Liverpool Football Club this week?
We already know new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jnr are back in the US. The lucky pair are set to be joined by the effervescent Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry who is flying out to Texas to meet up with Tom Hicks and see at first hand the American Airlines Center – the home of his Texas Rangers baseball side. With building work on the new stadium expected to begin possibly as early as March, Rick will be looking at the corporate side of the baseball stadium including ‘bunker’ executive seats – their very own type of executive boxes.
Rafa and the squad meanwhile are off to the Algarve in Portugal, home of some amazing golf courses (oh and obviously training facilities). Hmmm.. Rafa mentioned the phrase ‘team-building’. If that doesn’t mean golf then I don’t know what does.
With a ten day break before the Barcelona clash at the Nou Camp, Rafa believes getting away from the miserable cold will re-invigorate the players as they enter the final stages of this season which certainly on the field has left a lot to be desired.
The players fly out tomorrow and will spend five days in the sun.
Rafa said:
“We will go to a camp to prepare for the game. We have a period of 10 days, which gives us time, so we decided to do this.
“I think it will be good for team spirit, but it will also provide a change of weather, so maybe that will help us train a little bit better because the pitches here are not in the best of conditions right now.”
Watch out for those golf carry-cases at Liverpool John Lennon Airport tomorrow.