Bentez's tactics were credited as a key factor in Liverpool reaching, and winning, the final, despite a relatively unimpressive squad of players. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. But perhaps because Benitez believes in an element of. It was, in my opinion, a weird relationship (with Benitez) because when he signed me I looked at him as the big uncle who wanted to give me a chance and help me succeed," he told the Guardian. Due to this unbeaten run, Benitez was nominated for the Manager of the Month award. He also confirmed that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. "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. And I remember thinking, oh my, this is going to be trouble, this is going to be difficult for me'. They thought I was playing well but Benitez told me he was surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough. He could never let me do my thing. But the players he brought in werent bad, were they? 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. [125], Everton's form declined in the following months, and after a 21 defeat to bottom-placed Norwich City at Carrow Road, Benitez was relieved of his duties on 16 January 2022 after six-and-a-half months in charge, with Everton in 15th place, six points above the relegation zone, having lost nine of their previous 13 games. 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. They are just choosing to spend it more cautiously. "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. Rafael Benitez has told Jurgen Klopp which team he should pick for Liverpool's huge Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Don't do or say anything. Joshua Askew -. Bentez said that he had jokingly signalled to Alonso to ignore his instructions and not that he thought the game was effectively over. [65][66][67][68] He was unveiled as the new Chelsea manager at a press conference on 22 November 2012. 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. [145], Bentez's father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. 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). 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. Subscribe to the CV Academy. Liverpool host Real on Tuesday night in the first leg of their. [90] Defender David Luiz credited Bentez with making critical changes at half time, saying, "He changed some of our positions in the second half. 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. He was different class, the amount of goals and assists that he got. Further injury problems saw him miss almost the entire 198586 season and he subsequently retired as a player. Leaving for Celtic in January, he was not happy with how Benitez had treated him at all. Allardyce suggested that Bentez had signalled the game was over despite Liverpool only having a two-goal lead. Ill have Scott and a kid from the Academy. "Liverpool remains the place where I have suffered the most as a footballer, above all during the last season. Rafael "Rafa" Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish football manager who was the manager of Liverpool from 2004-2010. A "sell to buy" policy enforced by the ownership due to increasing debt, combined with Alonso's departure, prompted discontent amongst considerable sections of the club's fanbase who believed Bentez was not being backed sufficiently in the transfer market. 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. Take it easy. They stopped me from being free. 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. Home. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy. Steven Gerrard, who was linked with a big money move to Chelsea, needed to be convinced . Istanbul's districts extend far from the city center along the full length of the Bosphorus (with the Black Sea at top and the Sea of Marmara at bottom). The Spaniard is expected to sign his. A 7th place league finish and a group stage exit in the Champions League ended Rafa Benitez's time on Merseyside. "But I didn't argue with anybody. [111] However, the team was relegated to the Championship due to rivals Sunderland claiming 12 points from their final six fixtures. [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. [146] Rosario is a big football fan and supported Real Madrid, while his father supported Atltico Madrid. 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. 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. I had played for five years at Anfield and then never got a game when Benitez arrived, apart from three in the Carling Cup. We played attacking football. 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. The. [131] In his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson said that "Benitez bought badly and made the feud personal". [79], At the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2012, Chelsea defeated Monterrey 31 to reach the final,[80] where they were beaten 10 by Brazilian side Corinthians. All I ever wanted to do is just to play football.". Despite this success, Bentez fell out with Jess Garca Pitarch, the club's director of football, over control of new signings and the club's failure to reinforce the squad with the players he wanted. On 21 August 2010, Bentez won his first trophy as manager, the Italian Super Cup, after they defeated Roma 31. Jurgen Klopp's respect for Rafa Benitez spotted during Liverpool's thrashing of Everton LIVERPOOL beat city rivals Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park on Wednesday night. 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. I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. What is going on with my transfer?, I will be honest with you, I am not interested in loaning you. The 61-year-old collapsed at his Starkville home but did not receive medical attention for between ten to 15 minutes. "Right now the only market open is the Russian one, I have offers from two teams and, looking at my situation, that has made me reflect a lot.". Benitez came to Liverpool from the Spanish side Valencia on 16 June 2004 after the sacking of Gerard Houllier. increasingly disappointed. Usain Bolt? 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. Despite their best efforts, the Toon were beaten by six minutes worth of Manchester United attack. If they come back today to buy you, they need to double their offer as this is the last day of the transfer window.. I should have stayed a bit longer and trusted myself, I should have. [98][99] They lost 42 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao in the qualifying stages, thus entering the Europa League. "It is not true that I had or have had disputes with Bentez, but I am annoyed that when I'm fit I only warm the bench, Baros said on the eve of Istanbul. [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. The 61-year-old also won La Liga with Valencia and has collected trophies at Inter Milan, Napoli, and Newcastle United. But I want Liverpool fans to know the truth and for them to know I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez. Xabi Alonsos relationship with Benitez is a curious one. [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. 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. Given his past, the manager was a controversial choice. 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. . We discuss a first half that was below par, and the goals we conceded, as well as Bukayo Saka's brilliant equaliser. 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. Former Liverpool and Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez believes the Nerazzurri should be worried about the Reds' attack ahead of their Champions League clash on Wednesday. Then the focus is on a remarkable last . Liverpool finished third in the league, missing out on second place by one point. "[118], On 2 July 2019, Bentez was appointed manager of Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional (formerly Dalian Yifang), signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. infiniti qx80 indicator lights. The Israeli would depart Liverpool for Chelsea in a 5.5m deal in the summer of 2010 following Benitezs departure, though the move had been agreed with the Spaniards blessing before his exit. 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. His mother is Rosario Maudes. Olivia Shears and Katie Whyatt were highly commended in an historic one-two-three: it was the first time in the competition's history [] Scott played in the cups. "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. 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. Ill get 800,000, great, but I cant spend it today and Ill be five months without an experienced reserve goalkeeper. 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. This was followed by a 40 home loss in the first Clsico of the season against Barcelona. The more we have seen of him the more impressed we have become. "I'll only leave if I go as a free agent. [10], However, the following 200203 season was a disappointing one; the club failed to follow up on their title success, finishing 18 points behind champions Real Madrid, and missed out on the top four by a single point. [55] On 27 August 2010 in Monaco, Inter lost to Atltico Madrid in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup. I have some offers. What if Pepe gets injured next week? He won the Spain Under 19s Cup in 1991 and 1993, defeating Barcelona in both finals. [6], In 1986, at the age of 26, Bentez returned to Real Madrid to join the club's coaching staff. I meet him from time to time like at Pepe Reinas wedding, or some family parties.. Liverpool fans knew that 'Agent Rafa' would not be there more than a season, and so it has proven. The euphoria of lifting the European Cup 15 years ago today is a feeling Rafael Benitez will never forget. Rafa didnt mince his words. [28] It was reported Bentez did not feel he had the complete support of the new owners, a thought that was compounded by Liverpool's initial lack of activity in the transfer window, although the club played these rumours down. 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. [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 was dismissed in January 2022 after a run where Everton lost 9 out of 13 games. [25] Bentez swiftly issued a statement through the club's website re-affirming his desire to remain with Liverpool for the long term. The club said they understood why I was unhappy and promised they'd let me leave in the summer if an offer came while Benitez was manager. Ultimately you have to trust the players once they cross the white line. 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. 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