LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United monitoring Lewandowski's future. [132] In a match in April 2009 when Allardyce was manager of Blackburn, he accused Bentez of arrogance over a gesture he made when Fernando Torres scored Liverpool's second goal. [144], Bentez instigated a host of backroom changes at the end of the 200809 season to improve the club's youth development, including the appointment of club legend Kenny Dalglish in a senior role at the academy. I got more and more frustrated with him until transfer deadline day when I finally boiled over. Re: Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Wolves. This time, Pepe Reina saved three penalties during the shoot-out to secure the silverware. Benitez defence a stern test for Liverpool's attack. Carl Lewis? If you want to stay, theres not much point, I know you like playing and youre better off going. "We have not had any talk about why it is. That exchange took place just days into his Liverpool career and involved Benitez asking him to write down his misdemeanours and faults. 'You own the f****** club' - Istanbul story captures humility of What if Pepe gets injured next week? GAMEWEEK 7 - DISCUSSION, RANT & INFO THREAD. He also worked as a commentator/analyst for Eurosport, Marca, El Mundo and local Madrid TV. "You see that the team are not doing well and there are no changes. Bentez made a number of suggestions during Mourinho's tenure as manager that Roman Abramovich's money had bought Chelsea's success, and the pair refused to shake hands after some matches (although Mourinho declared the feud to be over after a league game in 2006). [133], Bentez has developed a reputation in English football as a hard man to please, with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitting he longed for a "well done" from Bentez after good performances. By Will Rooney. "As a player, you just want a bit of fun, to make training good and lively. They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. Classy timing'.". And I would like to play there constantly.". Ryan Babel was just 20 when he joined Liverpool from Ajax in an 11.5m deal in the summer of 2007. I am delighted to play for Liverpool and if I was playing, I would love to stay, because it is a brilliant place to play football. He also brought in both Mista from his former club and Francisco Rufete from Mlaga, with Mista going on to become top goalscorer for Valencia with 19 goals in the 200304 season. [23], Bentez's signings helped the club's Premiership form improve considerably. [131] In his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson said that "Benitez bought badly and made the feud personal". 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. I agreed to join Chelsea before Roy Hodgson was appointed Liverpool's new manager. [20] Bentez's calm, methodical approach at half time was said to give the players the belief they could pull off an improbable comeback and win Liverpool an historic fifth European Cup. In January 2008, Riise would score an own goal against Luton Town in the FA Cup after failing to defend a cross coming in from the right. Liverpools hero in Istanbul for the 2005 Champions League final, Jerzy Dudeks reward was to be relegated to the clubs back-up goalkeeper just months later following the arrival of Pepe Reina. Bentez is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian. Im not James Milner, who keeps it simple. In terms of team instructions I think you nailed it. Yet despite his exit, Riise does hold Benitez in the highest of regards. Liverpool actually failed to find a buyer for Riera before Benitez left the club in the summer of 2010, but he was sold by successor Roy Hodgson to Olympiacos that July in a 5m deal. 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. The Frenchman spent the 2006/07 on loan at Marseille, with Cisse joining the club permanently in a 6m deal in July 2007. [32] Bentez, however, said that his future was at Liverpool and signalled his long-term intentions by appointing Sammy Lee as his new assistant[33] to replace his long-time right-hand man, Pako Ayestarn, who quit after a reported disagreement, which Bentez admitted "hurt" him and arguably Liverpool's titles hopes. Rafa Benitez has praised Liverpool teenager Stefan Bajcetic ahead of tonight's Champions League first leg clash with Real Madrid. Yet, the Spaniard is not a monster. The Reds moved to six points adrift of fourth place after a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United. [55] On 27 August 2010 in Monaco, Inter lost to Atltico Madrid in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup. "When I went there (Liverpool) I was told myself and Torres (would start) and Stevie would drop into the midfield but obviously as it went on I think Rafa liked Stevie playing that no.10. 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. We were sitting in his office, just about to sign, and he showed me a picture of me shouting at a player! Benitez came to Liverpool from the Spanish side Valencia on 16 June 2004 after the sacking of Gerard Houllier. "When a player knows he is a slave, he'll never give his employer his heart.. [65][66][67][68] He was unveiled as the new Chelsea manager at a press conference on 22 November 2012. In the next game, a 00 draw against Canada, he was injured in a hard tackle. [102][103] Real Madrid remained unbeaten in the league until a 32 loss at Sevilla in the 11th matchday. If they go down Ill come back to Liverpool and stay until my contract ends or you can sell me then. "Liverpool remains the place where I have suffered the most as a footballer, above all during the last season. The next couple of days were a couple of the hardest days of my life. [47] It was suggested that this Liverpool team was missing Bentez's characteristic defensive rigidity[48] despite the fact that only Manchester United and Chelsea conceded fewer goals than Liverpool, and lacked the necessary depth to cope with injuries to key players such as Gerrard and Fernando Torres while Bentez's decision making was called into question. Former Liverpool star Mark Gonzalez is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart attack, his wife has confirmed. https://bit.ly/3Im9yA30:09 - Intro 0:16 - 4-2-3-1, how it transitions and roles out of possession 5:03 - In possession: Number. German clubs are financially savvy Kln knew they couldnt afford to buy me if they werent in the top division but Rafa refused to let me go on loan. For the second consecutive season, he was named UEFA Manager of the Year. Rafa Benitez has given his verdict on Liverpool's chances of finishing in the Premier League's top four. Bentez also quickly discarded Vladimr micer and Igor Bian, who played key roles in the European success but seemingly did not figure in Bentez's long-term plans. I was frustrated when I was not included in the Spain squad for the World Cup in 2010 because I hadnt had a lot of playing time in the Premier League for like two months. [124] This win was followed up with a 22 draw at Leeds United, a 21 win at Huddersfield in the EFL Cup and a 20 win against Brighton in the Premier League. And he still lives in Liverpool. "I have to finally tell Rafa I'm leaving because maybe he's not aware of it, he said. Mike Leach 'had a heart attack and may have suffered brain damage' [49] The club subsequently exited the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Atltico Madrid. It was a permanent deal or nothing as far as he was concerned. I didnt know what to do, I didnt want to leave! The biggest problem I had with Rafa was the first day, he told Sky Sports. Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia they won the Champions League that following season and he was justified.. 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. [citation needed], However, Liverpool's poor results in the New Year led to a sharper focus on Bentez, who had missed Liverpool's draw at Arsenal in December due to an operation to remove kidney stones. [61] Buoyed by the Club World Cup victory, he told the European champions to back him with new signings or consider whether they wanted to keep him as coach, despite the side having won the treble only a few months earlier. "Rafa is a top manager and he's proven that. The young Dutchman enjoyed an impressive first season at Anfield under Benitez, but would later find himself often out of favour under the Spaniard as his starting opportunities in the following years. He did everything so coldly, almost inhumanely, because he saw things as business. Olivia Shears and Katie Whyatt were highly commended in an historic one-two-three: it was the first time in the competition's history [] On two occasions early last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. "All players want to play in such great matches and I had been playing regularly before the Carling Cup final. Rafa Benitez News: Latest updates after Everton sacking - Mail Online [74][75] This was followed by a 00 draw at home to Fulham and a 31 loss to West Ham. In the red corner, Achraf Hakimi is a fight away from one of the greatest underdog stories of all time. Rafa came to sit next to me, he recalled in his 2013 autobiography. ago. Now in charge at Everton, Lucas Digne could be the latest player to not get a second chance with Benitez after the France international defender found himself dropped in recent weeks following a reported falling out between the pair. Published: 20:09, 16 Jan 2022 Updated: 20:09, 16 Jan 2022 LIVERPOOL legend Jamie Carragher was quick to take to social media to make light of Rafa Benitez's sacking at Everton. 1. wesap12345 3 mo. The Reds play the Spanish champions on Tuesday in the round of 16 first-leg at Anfield. It was a normal Craig Bellamy picture in a newspaper! But an exchange with Benitez did leave the Frenchman rather bemused on his way out. However, as the labour dragged on, the Reds boss had a decision to make as he went ahead without the midfielder and ultimately snubbed Alonsos offer to fly out on the day of the game. In March 1994, he became assistant manager to Vicente del Bosque with the senior Real Madrid team before returning to coach Real Madrid B for the 199495 season. Hardly the sort of character you can see embracing the Spaniards totalitarian style. He had to protect his interests, but it was hard to be on the receiving end of it., Knowing he would leave Liverpool at the end of his contract in 2007, Dudek at the time said Benitez had treated him like a slave.. He also won the FA Cup in 2006 and reached the 2007 Champions League Final, but was unable to win the Premier League, with Liverpool's best league performance under Bentez a second-place finish in 200809. GALLERY: Rafa Benitez's Liverpool years in pictures View gallery In 2013 he headed to Mexico to take over at Estudiantes Tecos and then last August he landed the job at Maccabi Tel Aviv in. We played attacking football. 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. Rafael Benitez: Police investigate reports of banner threatening ex [69][70][71] He appointed Boudewijn Zenden as his new assistant manager at Chelsea on the same day. In truth, he didnt have time to as Benitez made it clear early on that he had no future at the club.