I was so angry that the lads said later the aggression was pouring out of me. Writing in his autobiography, he described the Spaniard as the "most difficult" manager he played for, criticising him over his lack of man-management skills, claiming he only ever had one proper conversation with him. Rafa didnt mince his words. Bentez is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian. [36] Striker Keane was later re-sold back to Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window, with some analysts claiming he was a "pawn in a power struggle" between Bentez and the club's owners. In 2004, another La Liga league title and a UEFA Cup victory were added building on the foundation laid by Hctor Cper who had taken Valencia to two consecutive Champions League finals; in 2000 against Real Madrid, and in 2001 against Bayern Munich. Loved the details Riise gave of the Bellamy fiasco; that when he showed up the day after (to basics fight Bellamy), Agger went with him and had his back. I had played for five years at Anfield and then never got a game when Benitez arrived, apart from three in the Carling Cup. The win secured a top-four Premiership finish and with it a place in the following season's Champions League. Take part in our Liverpool FC 'Keep or Sell' survey: While Murphy was moved on straight away, it was a different story for Stephane Henchoz. [56] Bentez's first Serie A game in charge was on 31 August 2010 in a 00 draw away to Bologna in the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. "I keep a fantastic memory of England, even if I still hold a grudge on the coach," he told L'Equipe Magazine. But it was Liverpool Football Club. The left-backs standards had arguably slipped in his final two seasons with Liverpool as he fought with Fabio Aurelio for a starting role with only the Brazilians injury record ensuring he didnt retain the position permanently. "I was disappointed and that is all. Bentez called me and said I wasnt in his plans, so it was better for me to find a (new) club. "On a psychological level, it was very hard because I restrained myself a lot. I thought I would be staying for a lot longer.". Rafa Benitez has given his verdict on Liverpool's chances of finishing in the Premier League's top four. That is something I can never forget. 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[110], Newcastle ended the season with a six match unbeaten run, including a 51 final day win over third-place Tottenham Hotspur. Three months later he would do the exact same against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals, gifting the Londoners what would prove to be a decisive 90th minute away goal. The 37-year-old, who retired at the end of an unsuccessful Ashes tour of England in 2015, said he would consider returning in any capacity to help out Cricket Australia (CA)."I would do anything to 419HbFo help the Australian cricket team," he told Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper on Sunday. "But I didn't argue with anybody. A stalwart under Gerard Houllier, Murphy never really had a falling out with the Spaniard as such. In 2002, these tactics saw Bentez lead Valencia to their first La Liga title in 31 years, winning it by a seven-point margin over second-placed Deportivo La Corua. "I was furious with him, absolutely fuming, and in my head I could hear a devilish voice saying punch him in the face punch him in the face and hell let you go to Germany. After defeating Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus with the aid of some bold team selections by Bentez, Liverpool faced Chelsea in the semi-final. Despite the lack of silverware, the main talking points were off the pitch, with Bentez in the middle of a power struggle with the Liverpool board. The no-nonsense former Liverpool boss might have been criticised by former players for not being the warmest of man-managers, but in the past he has tended to get results. In the years since leaving Liverpool, Keane has never criticised Benitez for selling the striker but believes the Spaniard was simply the wrong manager for him at the wrong time in his career. You didnt mean it., I cannot let you go on loan. I had to make a decision and decided to be with my family. Therefore, I'm happy to give you some advice for emulating his Liverpool 4-2-3-1 tactic. They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. [119] On 23 January 2021, Bentez left the club by mutual consent, citing concerns over the health and wellbeing of his family due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for his departure. Extremadura only survived one season in La Liga, however, and were relegated in 1999 after finishing 17th and losing a play-off to Rayo Vallecano. I hadnt got on. Bentez speaking in 2020 on winning the 2005 Champions League Final. It was the same for me. When Craig Dawson is the best defender - possibly player - over 45 minutes, it sums up our issues. Then the focus is on a remarkable last . Liverpool finished the calendar year top of the Premier League for the first time since 1996. I would go when everything was fine, catch a plane and show up there. The injury saw him sidelined for a year and hampered his chances of becoming a major player. The previous season when we finished second in the Premier League, I was happy with my performance in the final months but I was not sure if the manager thought I was a good player,. Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored the goals in the first half to hand Liverpool a much-needed victory. "Just sometimes, he might as well have turned a player into an Xbox, dressed me up like RoboCop and put a picture of my face on it. He was different class, the amount of goals and assists that he got. If I leave the Reds, I would like to play in a team which would be at least at the same level as Liverpool in regard to playing in European competitions. He guided Segunda Divisin club Extremadura back to La Liga in his first season in the 199798 season, but the team was relegated the following season. He won a third league title with Real Madrid Youth B in 1990. We were sitting in his office, just about to sign, and he showed me a picture of me shouting at a player! Vales time at Liverpool with Rafa Benitez will help a lot as DOnald adapts his system of high pressing possession football, which is enjoyed by both men. [26], Supporters and manager joined to welcome new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, with the hope the new owners would bring funding for new players and a new stadium. In truth, he didnt have time to as Benitez made it clear early on that he had no future at the club. 1. wesap12345 3 mo. He would later rue how Mauricio Pellegrino was brought in as his replacement. [121] Before signing the contract, he was a subject to threats from a group of Everton supporters who opposed his appointment and who left a banner near his home, reading "We know where you live. I'm a total fan of his tactical methods, and have read a lot about it. I was sure he wanted me to attack him in the press during the season so he could turn the fans against me, so I kept quiet. "If I'm doing something badly and you are my boss, and you value me, then you are going to come and tell me what I have to do to play again. [100], Bentez announced that he would resign at the end of the 201415 season. Bentez's demands were dismissed out of hand by the Inter ownership, with Massimo Moratti refusing to comment on Bentez's continued employment by the club. [114], On 24 June 2019, Newcastle announced that Bentez would step down as Manager upon the expiration of his contract, and he departed the club on 30 June 2019. After that I did another interview and said that I have to be my first critic. The manager understood my decision., Meanwhile, Benitez told his player: "When he is born, you call me and we decide. The former Reds captain says in his new autobiography that tactically the Spaniard was . Three days before the transfer window closed I went in to see him again Relax, Jerzy, theres still time, but we want a permanent deal, but Meier was telling me that Rafa was still refusing to take his calls! [34], In a sign of the increasingly strained relationship between the Liverpool manager and his board, Bentez was reportedly close to quitting Liverpool in the summer of 2008 over the board's failure to back him in his bid to purchase Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. START DATES 2021-22 FA Community Shield Liverpool won't get a penny. ", "Rafael Benitez's Istanbul memories | Tactics, Gerrard switch and trophy lift", "Motion expert says Garcia's shot did cross the line", "Top 20 sporting moments of the decade: Liverpool's 'Miracle of Istanbul', "Benitez Uncovered: Inside The Dressing Room On That Amazing Night In Istanbul", "Rafa's Boys: How Successful Was Benitez in the Transfer Market? A scorer of big goals, he produced countless important moments in his three seasons with the club as the Reds challenged for the Premier League title and progressed in the Champions League. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. It was a bit frustrating not playing Inter, but I had to be with my family at the time, he said. In 2000, he was appointed manager of Tenerife of the Segunda Divisin and with a team that included Mista, Curro Torres and Luis Garca, he gained promotion to La Liga by finishing third in the league behind Sevilla and Real Betis. I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. However, time heals all wounds and Cisse was a lot more positive about Benitez when speaking exclusively to the ECHO back in February this year. The negotiations started. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. It was either his way or no way. Upon his arrival he had two very big personnel issues to tend to. Former Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez is reportedly in the reckoing to take charge of Olympiacos. [148][149], Rafael Bentez married Maria Montserrat[150][151][152] in 1998. "No-one's shown me any respect and Rafael Bentez, since his arrival, has treated me as if I was the dumbest of the dumb. I felt so unhappy but, out of respect to the club, I never spoke out. A controversial early goal in the second leg from Luis Garca saw Liverpool win 10 on aggregate and reach the final against Milan. You already know the story, of course. There are also easier fixtures than playing away against Wolves (with a rotated side) and Brighton as well as facing Chelsea at Anfield, as Liverpool has had to do recently. I said: 'You need me now and I will always do my best. I scored against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final. Benitez did far more. Benitez went to Real Madrid instead and Rodgers limped on until Klopp, who had long since been identified as the perfect successor, made it clear he was ready to cut short his sabbatical.. [97] Napoli finished third in Serie A in 201314 to qualify for the next season's Champions League. The situation got worse afterwards. I just sat there, half in shock. He was doing his job, I get that, but it was hard. However, like in Murphys case with Alonso and Garcia, Benitez could again claim to have made the right call as his decision to sideline Henchoz ultimately came hand-in-hand with the inspired switch to move Jamie Carragher back to centre-back, with the Liverpool legends own partnership with Hyypia usurping Houlliers previous duo. Were going to buy another striker, he said. It means that, suddenly, you mess up with a simple pass because your mind is all over the place. When Mourinho exited Chelsea in 2007, Bentez said, "You know my relationship with him, it is better that I do not say anything", declining to comment as Ferguson and Arsenal manager Arsne Wenger had. "I have to finally tell Rafa I'm leaving because maybe he's not aware of it, he said. Murphy would sign for Charlton Atheltic in a 2.5m deal in August 2004. Yes, I would have if I were not present at the delivery. He also played a further three games for the Spain Universities XI. Bentez left the club "by mutual consent" on 3 June 2010[50] with a reported 6million pay-off;[51] the media speculated that this was because the team had finished seventh in the Premier League, missing out on the Champions League, and suffered poor results, including the defeat by Wigan Athletic. In the penultimate league game of the season, Chelsea won 21 away to Aston Villa, a game in which Frank Lampard set the all-time scoring record at Chelsea. Perhaps the most obvious name on this list. [142], The tactic of zonal marking has been criticised by pundits when Liverpool concede from set-pieces[143] in spite of the fact that Bentez's squads are usually renowned for their defensive nature and low number of goals scored against them. ", 'Pubs need to adapt' if they are going to survive the times ahead, "Although we are living during a cost-of-living crisis people still do have money. "[122] Benitez is only the second person to manage both Liverpool and Everton, since William Edward Barclay in 1890s. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Youre a big name, you can play anywhere at all. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt. However, an 87th-minute goal by Steven Gerrard defeated Olympiacos 31 and saw the club progress to the last 16 on head-to-head difference. Down to 9 men we go on the attack and with a Jean Makoun . In the red corner, Achraf Hakimi is a fight away from one of the greatest underdog stories of all time. I couldn't say at the time, but I knew this was my last season at Liverpool and I wanted a special end. The club had previously approached Javier Irureta, Man and Luis Aragons and had been turned down by all three. It was a privilege for me to play for such a great club in front of great fans. He won the Spain Under 19s Cup in 1991 and 1993, defeating Barcelona in both finals. Steven Gerrard, who was linked with a big money move to Chelsea, needed to be convinced . I agreed to join Chelsea before Roy Hodgson was appointed Liverpool's new manager. When Allardyce was manager of Newcastle, he suggested Bentez would have been dismissed had Liverpool's European form been as bad as their league form. "Just before I left Liverpool last January was when they brought in Pellegrino," he told the Mail on Sunday. Katie Smith, who is studying at Leeds University, was crowned as the 2017 winner of the David Welch Student Sportswriter of the Year at the Sports Journalists Association awards in London on Monday night. However, the second leg was cancelled and Madrid were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. Still remember seeing him pull what appeared to be a tooth out of his mouth after colliding with a goalpost. According to Echoes of Liverpool, Brands wanted Graham Potter more than Rafa Benitez.Given the way the Benitez era has unfolded - Everton are 11 points behind Brighton are operating on a fraction of their budget - it is tempting to wonder how different this season would have been if Moshiri had followed suit with the sporting director. At one point, rumours of Bentez quitting or being dismissed became so great that bookmakers had to suspend betting on the subject. He was being honest and he said to me: Look, I want to bring in some of my own players, youre not going to be part of the XI and its unlikely youre going to get back in the team. "Apart from that, I loved everything at Liverpool - the players, the people, the fans, everything was great. This is nonsense and it is a fabrication that I wanted to leave the stadium. He returned to Italy in 2013 to coach Napoli, where he won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.
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