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Posts Tagged ‘commitment’

• Deschamps signs one-year extension at Stade Vélodrome
• Frenchman had been linked to Liverpool manager’s job

Marseille’s coach, Didier Deschamps, has moved to end speculation over his future by extending his contract by a year until June 2012.

The former France captain, who led the south coast club to the Ligue 1 title last term, had been linked with the Liverpool job as a replacement for Rafael Benítez.

The Marseille president, Jean-Claude Dassier, who revealed at the weekend that Liverpool had contacted him over Deschamps, told the club’s official website: “I am very happy that Didier Deschamps has signed for another year.”

Deschamps, who has been at the Stade Vélodrome since 2009 after spells in charge of Juventus and Monaco, admitted he was “flattered” by the interest from Liverpool, but wanted to continue his work at Marseille.

“It makes me very happy,” he said. “It is not a financial question that I leave OM. After the season that we have experienced, there is still work to do. A great club asked me. I’m very flattered but when I start somewhere… If I ask for respect from my players, the least I can do is to be comparable in my commitment to the club. I owe it to the OM. I agree and I respect that commitment.”

Dassier revealed at the weekend he received a call from Liverpool’s executive director, Christian Purslow, last Thursday. “I kindly indicated to him that there wasn’t the slightest chance for him to pinch our coach. Even in his dreams,” Dassier said.

MarseilleLiverpoolguardian.co.uk

• Players told ‘they did not deserve to wear the shirt’ • Rafael Benítez bemoans lack of confidence in his Liverpool side

Cesc Fábregas revealed that an uncharacteristic half-time rant by Arsène Wenger inspired Arsenal’s second half comeback at Anfield.

“The boss screamed. I’ve never seen him like that before. He was really disappointed in the first half and said we didn’t deserve to wear the Arsenal shirt if we played like that,” said Fábregas. “I think he was right but in the second half we turned it round.”

However, Wenger refused to divulge what he told his young team. “I don’t like to talk about that,” he said. “I’ll keep that in the dressing room. It was just to make them conscious the commitment of Liverpool was bigger.

“I think the first half we were quite happy with 1-0 – it could have been two and the game could have been over. I don’t put it down to a lack of desire – there was a fear to lose a big game. You could see that in the first half. It showed the team can respond and they are proud.”

Rafael Benítez bemoaned his side’s lack of confidence: “The own goal changed everything, the confidence changed and we started to make mistakes.

Benítez also appeared to concede any lingering hopes of the title. “We will keep going. We have another important game on Wednesday, we have some players coming back. Top four is the same target, it’s a long way but we need to keep going.”

ArsenalLiverpoolPremier LeagueArsène WengerRafael BenítezCesc Fábregasguardian.co.uk