In the run up to the Champions League match against Werder, Rafa Benitez, said in a press conference: "Milito still isn't fully fit. It's a medical decision. He'll be alright for the Club World Cup but he's not at his best yet so we didn't want to force him. As for Sneijder, he's a bit tired and we decided to rest him so that he can recover properly for Abu Dhabi. We expect Julio Cesar and Maicon to be available for the Club World Cup; they're working really hard to make it but we'll have to see how they cope in training."

On the Golden Ball: "I have nothing against the Spanish players who are in the running for the Ballon d'Or," Benitez said, "but I can't understand what voting criteria have been used. I'm sorry for Wesley as I was sorry for Milito, but I really don't understand whether the World Cup counts for more than what was achieved over the whole year."

On his future: "Myself, president Moratti and Marco Branca spoke before the transfer window opened and after it closed, and we will speak again about it in January. They and I know what has been said, and that remains between us of course, but we're working together. Do Moratti's comments hurt? He wants to see the team winning and so do I."