Rafa Benitez believes Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium could be key to who wins their Champions League clash with Liverpool. Yes, I would have if I were not present at the delivery. This time, Pepe Reina saved three penalties during the shoot-out to secure the silverware. 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. The Reds play the Spanish champions on Tuesday in the round of 16 first-leg at Anfield. Benitez spent six years as Liverpool manager, winning the Champions League in 2005 and reaching the final of the competition in 2007. It was just a case of his manager no longer wanting him in his squad, with the defender going on to sign for Roma in 4m deal. Despite this win, Chelsea failed to progress beyond the group stage of the competition. After leaving Valencia, Benitez moved to English club Liverpool of the Premier League, guiding the club to victory in the UEFA Champions League in 2005. A controversial early goal in the second leg from Luis Garca saw Liverpool win 10 on aggregate and reach the final against Milan. [24], Following Bentez's great early success, the English media were predicting Liverpool would challenge Chelsea for the 200607 Premier League title after Bentez addressed Liverpool's perceived weaknesses in the transfer window, a belief reaffirmed after his side won the Community Shield with a 21 victory over Chelsea. [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. "He thinks he's in charge and everything else falls on deaf ears. "Yet even now they are talking about signing another centre half.". Rafa Benitez promised me a certain development, but very quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different situation. I've certainly never said a bad word about him as a manager, I thought he was top, Keane told The Football Show on Sky Sports last year. [30], Liverpool made a good start to the 200708 season, topping the Premier League table for the first time under Bentez after a comprehensive 60 win over Derby County. 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. "[39] With ten wins in their last 11 games, Liverpool finished the season on a high, finishing second in the league for the first time under Bentez, four points off champions Manchester United, with Liverpool playing an attractive brand of attacking football at odds with the side that struggled through the winter months. "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. [57] His first league win as manager came on 11 September 2010, a 21 win against Udinese at the San Siro. "I have not said I am going to leave Liverpool. Sometimes there were rows, others were just ostracised from the team, but all of them knew their Reds days were numbered after crossing paths with the Spaniard. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. On each occasion I had accepted the challenge and emerged victorious from it. I was feeling glum. "Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," he told the News of the World.. "There is only one reason - Rafa Benitez. Still remember seeing him pull what appeared to be a tooth out of his mouth after colliding with a goalpost. Then he said: I think its time we go our separate ways, Riise recalled in his 2018 autobiography. To be completely honest, I genuinely considered punching Rafa in the face. "I was disappointed and that is all. I couldn't say at the time, but I knew this was my last season at Liverpool and I wanted a special end. "With Rafa, it is all about himself. When Craig Dawson is the best defender - possibly player - over 45 minutes, it sums up our issues. It's a little frustrating because you see that you can help. And I remember thinking, oh my, this is going to be trouble, this is going to be difficult for me'. Rafa Benitez has been in England working with Sky Sports and made clear that he would like to return to the Premier League after his last job with Everton.. "I am fine and happy in . [113], In May 2017, Newcastle won the 201617 EFL Championship and made an immediate return to the Premier League after one season in the Championship. You already know the story, of course. For some reason it was important that I reach 350 matches and an exact average of fifty per season. His reign at the club was a short one and he was dismissed midway through the 201011 season. Given Bellamys reputation, you can imagine these were not the only occasions when the duo failed to see eye to eye. The former Liverpool manager remains a top defensive mind but will have his work cut out for him when he brings his Newcastle side to Anfield. I just tried to put the ball there and Ivanovic did the rest. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy. The Czech Republic international had had suspicions that he wasnt part of Benitezs long-term plans, and reports at the time suggested he had threatened to walk out of the team hotel after finding out he had been benched for the 2005 League Cup final. [54] Wed just lost the Champions League final. At one point, rumours of Bentez quitting or being dismissed became so great that bookmakers had to suspend betting on the subject. Liverpool fans were seen singing his name during the side's. 4y Dave Usher. The Spaniard is expected to sign his. He won the Spain Under 19s Cup in 1991 and 1993, defeating Barcelona in both finals. But then for the first game of the new season I wasn't in the team again. After his success with the U19s, Bentez then succeeded Garca Remn at the start of the 199394 season. I tried to convince him to change his mind: What have you got to lose? Then he told him who were coming in for me Tottenham, Charlton and Everton. Milan Baros finished Benitez's first season at Liverpool as the club's top goalscorer. By Will Rooney 17th Jan 2022, 2:32pm Former Everton medical chief Dan Donachie has appeared to have taken a swipe at Rafa Benitez after he was axed as manager. "I think I was right as well because I saw Pellegrino play for Liverpool and I thought, 'yes, I could have done the job he did for them, at the very least'. I learnt a lot. There's some speculation about what might have been said at half-time to spark a much better second half - collectively, and from certain individuals. Liverpool also won the FA Cup beating both Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as a thrilling 53 win against Luton Town in the third round, on the way to the final against West Ham United. It was as if the fans' reaction worked against me. I agreed to join Chelsea before Roy Hodgson was appointed Liverpool's new manager. However, the current Blues boss has taken . "On a psychological level, it was very hard because I restrained myself a lot. 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. Considering Liverpool were working on a limited budget when Benitez first took over as manager in the summer of 2004, its inevitable that he would have to force some players out to help raise funds for his own signings. "On the day before the final game of last season at Hull, Benitez pulled me to one side after training and said: 'You will not be in the squad for this game. "We were going into labour, and I told Rafa that I could not go. "It was such a bad season for me. But after falling out of favour in his second season, he was fined, suspended, banished from Melwood and transfer-listed after slamming his manager in two different interviews with Spanish radio, and after allegedly assaulting a young team-mate in training. While at Real, Bentez also gained his coaching certificate in 1989 and in the summer of 1990 taught at a football camp at the University of California in Davis, California. It was either his way or no way. I told Benitez I would go if he wanted, but he told me I was important and he would give me a new contract, which I signed. They wanted to take me on loan for six months, for which Liverpool would get 800,000, then complete a permanent 3m transfer in the summer if they avoided relegation. The fans could see what it meant to me. 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. He was dismissed in January 2022 after a run where Everton lost 9 out of 13 games. That is something I can never forget. You listen to his former team-mates and all say the Spaniards relationship with his compatriot completely broke down during his final season at Liverpool, before putting in a transfer request and leaving for Real Madrid in a 30m deal in the summer of 2009. "Rafa is a top manager and he's proven that. Making 52 appearances in 2006/07, that dropped to 25 in 2007/08 while he was frozen out in 2008/09 altogether, featuring just four times and making only two Premier League starts before being sent on loan to Portsmouth. [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. In the blue corner, Kylian Mbappe stands tall as the undisputed champion of the world. The long-serving Danny Murphy was one such player. Ultimately you have to trust the players once they cross the white line. He moved away from Real Madrid in 1995, but management spells at Real . [120], Bentez was appointed manager of Premier League club Everton on a three-year contract on 30 June 2021, replacing Carlo Ancelotti who left to join Real Madrid. [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. 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. Were going to buy another striker, he said. Perhaps the most obvious name on this list. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton is challenged by Tomas Soucek of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 17, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Gillett declared himself delighted with the manager of his new investment, as Bentez overcame his domestic difficulties to lead Liverpool to another Champions League final. START DATES 2021-22 FA Community Shield Liverpool were hit with budget restrictions in 2006, and then-reds boss Benitez was only given 10 million to spend on a right-midfielder. That was why, when Pako Ayestarn (his assistant) went, they had a parting of the ways and things started to go downhill a bit.". 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. And he still lives in Liverpool. The 61-year-old collapsed at his Starkville home but did not receive medical attention for between ten to 15 minutes. I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. If pushed, you would have guessed the man responsible for scoring the Blues' first goal at home for nearly two months was David Datro Fofana, the Ivorian forward signed during January's trolley dash. They thought I was playing well but Benitez told me he was surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough. Down to 9 men we go on the attack and with a Jean Makoun . For a player to really be at his best you have to give him a certain confidence, but I did not feel appreciated by some people at Liverpool, he told the Mirror. I knew he wasnt the man for me, but because it was Liverpool I just had to sign.. 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. Its like telling (Lionel) Messi you need technique. [127], Bentez has had confrontations with both Jos Mourinho (Chelsea manager from 2004 to 2007) and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson during his time in English football. I meet him from time to time like at Pepe Reinas wedding, or some family parties.. 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. [74][75] This was followed by a 00 draw at home to Fulham and a 31 loss to West Ham. The Spanish gaffer delved into some of the players. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why. Released at the end of his contract, he signed for Real Zaragoza in the summer of 2009 on a free transfer and has repeatedly slammed Benitez in the years that have followed. Halfway through the 199091 season he succeeded Jos Antonio Camacho as the coach of Real Madrid's under-19 team. Even Ali looks a shadow of himself. The thinking fan's Chelsea blog. He did start the home leg defeat against Graz, reinstated next to Hyypia as he made his first appearance of the season in the process, but after that his final three appearances for the club all came with the kids and reserves in the League Cup. Benitez just shook his head Id got the sack, plain and simple. Murphy would sign for Charlton Atheltic in a 2.5m deal in August 2004. I need to play. 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.. [85] He described his relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich as "excellent" and expressed his desire to remain as Chelsea manager until the end of the season. His final match was a 42 defeat to Lazio, who took the final place in the Champions League at Napoli's expense.[101]. On 3 June 2015, Bentez was confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager, signing a three-year contract. The euphoria of lifting the European Cup 15 years ago today is a feeling Rafael Benitez will never forget. Punching a Liverpool manager who had won the European Cup only a few months earlier wouldnt have looked too good on the CV I guess, but I was still angry. Liverpool's worst run in 22 years[46] combined with an exit from the Champions League at the group stages led to the first major vocal criticism of Bentez by Liverpool fans. Just tell me. Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has named the two players that influenced Steven Gerrard the most in his time at the club. I am not interested in making Rafa my enemy in the slightest, quite the opposite, but ultimately it is about playing, and if I am not, we have to talk about why not. The striker would join West Ham United in a 7.5m deal, as Benitez went on to replace him with Fernando Torres, before later returning to Liverpool in August 2011 and enjoying a more successful stint with his boyhood club under Kenny Dalglish. At half-time of the Champions League final, Benitez's Reds were 3-0 . Fully fit again in time for Benitezs arrival, he featured throughout pre-season and even scored in a friendly vs Celtic. becky ending explained. After that I did another interview and said that I have to be my first critic. And Babel has since described his relationship with his first Reds manager as weird, repeating pointing the finger of blame at Benitez for the fact he was unable to push on on Merseyside. [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. And after moving to Stamford Bridge, Benayoun would lay into his former Reds boss, insisting he was the only reason he had any interest in leaving Anfield. [ VIDEO: PST unfiltered - EURO 2020 impressions; Sancho to Man United? ] By Rafa Benitez May 24, 2020 Happy Istanbul Day! [31] It later emerged that Jrgen Klinsmann had been offered Bentez's job before eventually accepting the post of Bayern Munich manager. Claiming Liverpool were sinking ship under Benitez in March 2010, he said: "I've been here two years and I know how he (Benitez) is. "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. [3][4][5], In 1979, Bentez was selected to play for the Spain Youth U-19s at the World Student Games in Mexico City and he scored a penalty in the opening game, a 100 win against Cuba. GAMEWEEK 7 - DISCUSSION, RANT & INFO THREAD. The. He spoke a lot to us to change the intensity." I looked at him. The man management was down to his staff. In truth, he didnt have time to as Benitez made it clear early on that he had no future at the club. [citation needed], Bentez was unable to win any trophies as Liverpool's domestic campaign falter in the winter months including a shock FA Cup exit at home to Barnsley, with his side losing to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals. "When a player knows he is a slave, he'll never give his employer his heart.. I dont know how, but I managed to stop myself. "[91], On 19 May, in his final competitive game as Chelsea manager, Bentez managed the team to a 21 home win over Everton, ensuring a third-place finish in the Premier League and a direct spot in the following season's Champions League group stage. Milan Baros finished Benitezs first season at Liverpool as the clubs top goalscorer. Further injury problems saw him miss almost the entire 198586 season and he subsequently retired as a player. Former Liverpool player and Chile international Mark Gonzalez has suffered from a heart attack and is currently in hospital recovering, as confirmed by his wife. It means that, suddenly, you mess up with a simple pass because your mind is all over the place. A club-record 14m signing from Auxerre the same summer of Benitezs arrival, the only problem for Djibril Cisse was it was Houllier rather than the Spaniard who sanctioned the switch. ". He never treated me with the respect I deserved. Craig Bellamy joined Liverpool from Blackburn Rovers in a 6m deal in June 2006. Then the focus is on a remarkable last . Don't sign. 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! I hated him at the time, but Ive lost that now. Rafael Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who most recently managed Premier League club Everton.. Bentez joined Real Madrid's coaching staff at the age of 26, going on to work as the under-19 and reserve team coach, and assistant manager for the senior team. [citation needed], Bentez has also had confrontations with Sam Allardyce when he was manager of Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers. And after falling down the pecking order at Anfield, the Poland international was involved in a couple of controversial incidents before departing on a free transfer to Real Madrid in 2007. It was not easy, my job is not a normal job and it was not just any game, but I never regretted it. [38], Nevertheless, on 18 March 2009, shortly after registering a 40 victory over Real Madrid and 41 victory over Manchester United, Bentez signed a new five-year deal with the club. I certainly had no complaints about that. Yet he would return to Spurs just seven months later, and at an 8m loss, having quickly fallen out of favour under Benitez. [25] Bentez swiftly issued a statement through the club's website re-affirming his desire to remain with Liverpool for the long term. 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. And while there werent particularly any cross words with his manager, he did make a reluctant exit at the end of that season after being told his services were no longer required. Bentez still appeared to be at odds with Liverpool's owners, publicly turning down a contract extension and demanding more control over transfers. A 6.7m signing from Birmingham City in the summer of 2006, he impressed during his first season with the club and was a standout performer in their 2007 Champions League final defeat to AC Milan. Liverpool fans knew that 'Agent Rafa' would not be there more than a season, and so it has proven. He said he understood and liked my desire to be playing so negotiations with Kln continued. Former Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has sent the Magpies a heart-warming message on Twitter after their defeat in the Carabao cup final. 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. "But then as we went on he left me totally on my own and only judged me for the things I didnt do right instead of telling me how to solve or improve the things I had to improve. The season also saw Bentez make his debut in the Champions League, where his side reached the quarter-finals, losing to Inter Milan. Who are you going to buy with pace? See you on Wednesday.. Real Madrid B were then playing in the Segunda Divisin and on 4 September 1993, he made his debut as a Segunda Divisin manager with a 31 over Hrcules. Among those Bentez sold was Craig Bellamy, who was notably phased out of the first team following an altercation with John Arne Riise in the buildup to Liverpool's remarkable victory over Barcelona in the Camp Nou en route to the Champions League final. 134 appearances and 29 goals would seemingly demonstrate that. Bentez was appointed coach of Valencia and won La Liga in the 200102 season. Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia they won the Champions League that following season and he was justified.. In the next game, a 00 draw against Canada, he was injured in a hard tackle. 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. [146] Rosario is a big football fan and supported Real Madrid, while his father supported Atltico Madrid. Commenting on Benitez's touchline instructions, he said: "On the pitch, often I can see whats best. He started to get up to go but I told him to wait for a second. [11] These differences of opinion saw Bentez resign as Valencia coach on 1 June 2004. 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. So I asked who he was going to sign. [69][70][71] He appointed Boudewijn Zenden as his new assistant manager at Chelsea on the same day. An FA Cup winner the following year, Cisse did feature fairly regularly in 2005/06 but often found himself utilised out of position or as a substitute. Admittedly I never really asked the manager, but he never said anything either, never said I wasn't good enough. The 36-year-old joined the. As a right winger/midfielder, Steven Gerrard had the most productive seasons trophy-wise, claiming a Champions League title, and an FA Cup. "When you have so many instructions, it makes it so difficult. [60] Despite criticism, Bentez guided Inter to win the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2010. [131] In his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson said that "Benitez bought badly and made the feud personal". He left the club in June 2019 and the following month was appointed manager of Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional. An official statement from the club said, "Rafa will forever be part of Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League following the epic final in Istanbul but after a. Rafael Benitez predicted, in this very space, on Tuesday morning, precisely where the risk lay when it came to Liverpool v Real Madrid. According to Santiago Caizares, the squad was initially surprised but they were immediately won over by his modesty as he presented himself as quoted: "You come from the Champions League final and I come from Segunda Divisin, but humbly I think I have tools to make you improve". The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt. He told me he needed pace up front. What is going on with my transfer?, I will be honest with you, I am not interested in loaning you. Yet despite his exit, Riise does hold Benitez in the highest of regards. Not only was he a brilliant coach but he is a very sharp, savvy businessman. By Will Rooney. Despite heavy criticism from the English press[141] Bentez persisted with the reward of a Champions League and FA Cup triumph in his first two seasons. May is a special month for. Rafa Benitez was sacked as Everton manager on Sunday after a 2-1 loss at Norwich City. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. I got more and more frustrated with him until transfer deadline day when I finally boiled over. Liverpool host Real on Tuesday night in the first leg of their. [110], Newcastle ended the season with a six match unbeaten run, including a 51 final day win over third-place Tottenham Hotspur. Everton won four of their first six league games under Benitez, taking 13 points from a possible 18, but their form has collapsed since October. Bentez argued he needed to rotate his small squad to ensure key players were fit for the latter stages of these knockout competitions. Im a flair player and do my own thing. Ill have Scott and a kid from the Academy. . The centre-back had been first-choice under Houllier, forming a brilliant partnership alongside Sami Hyypia, and its no coincidence that Liverpools form under the Frenchman faltered when the Switzerland international endured prolonged periods on the sidelines through injury. Real later played Cdiz in the Copa del Rey round of 32, winning away 31 in the first leg. An unused substitute for the 2007 Champions League final, he was informed by Benitez on the flight home that he had no future with the club. "It was for the Champions League quarter-final squad against Inter," Alonso said. The negotiations started. "You see that the team are not doing well and there are no changes. The Reds moved to six points adrift of fourth place after a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United. As soon as training had finished I stormed over to him and ripped my gloves off in an aggressive manner. I repeat, if they come back in today they must pay double., I felt he was treating me unfairly, but thats how Rafa operated. Imagine the pressure Id be under if that happened, Why should I care? YOU would have got good odds on someone called Fofana saving Graham Potter from more death threats. "Liverpool remains the place where I have suffered the most as a footballer, above all during the last season. I was with the national side, before the World Cup, he recalled to the Times. But come the start of the season he didnt get a look in. [58], By December 2010, Inter had slumped to sixth in Serie A, 13 points adrift of the top (although Inter played two games less), having suffered consecutive defeats against arch rivals Milan (which ended a 46 match unbeaten home record),[59] Chievo and Lazio, as well as losing at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, leading to speculation that Bentez's position was under threat. An infamous attack on Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the media led some pundits and opposition supporters to suggest Bentez was "cracking up" under the pressure of a title bid. Being told youre no longer wanted at Liverpool by Rafa that was a tough one, he told TalkSPORT. On 21 August 2010, Bentez won his first trophy as manager, the Italian Super Cup, after they defeated Roma 31. [128][129], On 9 January 2009, Bentez delivered a controversial appraisal of certain aspects of Sir Alex Ferguson's tenure, accusing Ferguson and Manchester United of being nervous because Liverpool were at the top of the league,[130] then accused the Manchester United manager of not being punished for breaking FA rules, suggesting he was "the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things",[130] referring to Ferguson not being punished following an FA charge for comments he made about officials Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett following an FA Cup tie with Portsmouth.