Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has held talks with the club's managing director about the financial implications if it failed to reach the knockout round of the Champions League.
Liverpool has qualified from the group stage every season since Benitez took charge five years ago and won the competition in 2005. But it now risks elimination after a draw in midweek at Lyon, and could miss out on up to $17.8 million US from UEFA.
The 18-time English champions must win its final two Group E games and hope that Lyon gets at least a draw at Fiorentina in its next match.
"I spoke to (managing director) Christian Purslow the other day about the finances," Benitez said. "The first thing, though, is that we have confidence we can still reach the last 16 of the Champions League this season, but whatever happens, the budget was done for this season based on us only qualifying for the group stages. And we did that, that is complete.
"Whether we can still bring in more money, we will wait and see. The commercial department is working very hard, for the next season (qualifying) it is a question of time."
Hamm goes to work
MADRID -- Barcelona have reached an agreement with former U.S. women's World Cup winner Mia Hamm to become an ambassador for the European champions and their charitable foundation.
Under the deal, Barca can use 37-year-old Hamm's image to promote the club over the next three years.
Pohang Steelers win title
TOKYO -- South Korea's Pohang Steelers won the Asian Champion's League title , beating Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad 2-1 in the final for a record third continental title.
Forward No Byung Jun scored from a free kick in the 57th minute, with his shot finding a gap in the Saudi wall.
Nine minutes later, Kim Jae Sung's free kick found defender Kim Hyung Il, who headed into the top left corner to set Pohang on its way.
