[60] Despite criticism, Bentez guided Inter to win the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2010. [104] Meanwhile, Real topped their UEFA Champions League group with 16 points. 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. 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. "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. It's a dream for me such a fantastic club have given me this opportunity. I remember the conversation and he was all right, to be fair. Join our group for FREE by clicking here! Other semi final Wolves V Southampton. [35] Bentez had reportedly intended to sell Xabi Alonso to fund the purchase of Barry, but Liverpool CEO Rick Parry was reported to have prioritised signing Robbie Keane over Barry, causing tension when Barry did not arrive. The injury saw him sidelined for a year and hampered his chances of becoming a major player. 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". 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. Rafa Benitez's team lost 1-0 on both occasions to a Spurs XI each time . 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. 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. But perhaps because Benitez believes in an element of. [115][116] Mike Ashley criticised Bentez following his departure, stating that Bentez's demands made it impossible for him to remain as manager. [69][70][71] He appointed Boudewijn Zenden as his new assistant manager at Chelsea on the same day. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why. 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. "I just thought, 'am I so bad that they want me to leave and they want him?'. I could not risk waiting to see if Benitez kept his job. In 1985, he signed for Segunda Divisin B club Linares and under Enrique Mateos, he served as a player/coach. 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. START DATES 2021-22 FA Community Shield 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'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. In 1993, the team completed a double when they also won the national under-19 league. Another altercation between Bellamy and Benitez would take place in the Spaniards office after the Welshman was fined for taking a penalty against Birmingham City when Robbie Fowler had been the designated taker. [94] Bentez agreed a two-year contract after meeting club president Aurelio De Laurentiis in London. Maybe I will never swallow it. [6], In 1986, at the age of 26, Bentez returned to Real Madrid to join the club's coaching staff. [84], On 27 February 2013, following a 20 win at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth-round, Bentez heavily criticised the Chelsea board for giving him the title of "interim manager" and the Chelsea fans for their protests against him. However, Club Director Javier Subirats recognised the potential of Bentez and campaigned for his appointment. "[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. The Spaniard is expected to sign his. Not quite fitting into the Reds favoured system, failing to forge a successful partnership with Fernando Torres and not being suited to lead the line when the Spaniard was injured all contributed to his premature departure. Poor, but better than them. 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. Joshua Askew -. But then for the first game of the new season I wasn't in the team again. [139] Bentez often plays key players in unorthodox positions to suit a formation notably converting both Steven Gerrard (in the 200506 season) and Dirk Kuyt into right-wingers. It was a permanent deal or nothing as far as he was concerned. 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. He's never sorted out a situation with a player by talking with him. It was a really emotional moment for me. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy. [41] Alonso said that Bentez's attempts to sell him the previous summer were a deciding factor in his move. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) End of story.". [148][149], Rafael Bentez married Maria Montserrat[150][151][152] in 1998. It was the same for me. The Spanish gaffer delved into some of the players. Bentez is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian. Bentez said that he had jokingly signalled to Alonso to ignore his instructions and not that he thought the game was effectively over. [82] They subsequently lost 10 at home to 20th-placed Queens Park Rangers[83] in the Premier League and were knocked out of the League Cup semi-finals by underdogs Swansea City 20 on aggregate. "But I didn't argue with anybody. Cisse admitted, after joining Marseille on loan, that he did hold a grudge against Benitez for forcing him out. Still remember seeing him pull what appeared to be a tooth out of his mouth after colliding with a goalpost. Bentez argued he needed to rotate his small squad to ensure key players were fit for the latter stages of these knockout competitions. He (Benitez) said it would be a good move for me, adding: Well definitely help you, well do whatever it takes to make a deal, Dudek recalled. [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. "I have still not swallowed it. [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. Sign up here - it only takes a few seconds! [146] Rosario is a big football fan and supported Real Madrid, while his father supported Atltico Madrid. 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. Commenting on Benitez's touchline instructions, he said: "On the pitch, often I can see whats best. "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. He left the club by mutual consent in January 2021 before taking over as manager at Everton in June. "On a psychological level, it was very hard because I restrained myself a lot. I should have known better by then. Usain Bolt? "As a player, you just want a bit of fun, to make training good and lively. You could benefit from new challenges and weve bought a new left-back that we intend to rely on Liverpool had purchased Andrea Dossena from Udinese for 7million, but that kind of thing had happened before. "I was disappointed and that is all. Xabi Alonsos relationship with Benitez is a curious one. "I will remember Liverpool fondly as a success but not the situation I've found myself in. 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. [117] However, in an interview with The Athletic in December 2020, Bentez stated he was left no choice but to leave the role due to disagreements with Ashley, describing him as "a businessman who I don't believe really cares about his team. 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. I got more and more frustrated with him until transfer deadline day when I finally boiled over. [90] Defender David Luiz credited Bentez with making critical changes at half time, saying, "He changed some of our positions in the second half. Looking back, I do appreciate honesty from managers. Liverpool host Real on Tuesday night in the first leg of their. 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). In the next game, a 00 draw against Canada, he was injured in a hard tackle. Bajcetic has been one of the few positives for the Reds throughout a disappointing season and looks set for the biggest game of his career tonight. 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. 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. The biggest problem I had with Rafa was the first day, he told Sky Sports. 1. wesap12345 3 mo. At the start of the 198687 season, he was appointed coach of Castilla B. I tried to plead with him a little bit, and he repeated the fact that my time was done, really, in his own way. It was suggested that Bentez's position was now under serious threat. On the winning goal scored by Branislav Ivanovi, Juan Mata said, "Rafa told us we had to aim to the far post, because it was Artur's weakest place. Bentez played as a midfielder for both Real Madrid Aficionados in the Tercera Divisin and Castilla CF in the Segunda Divisin. [7], During the 199293 season, Bentez also worked as an assistant coach to Mariano Garca Remn at Real Madrid B. Bentez also quickly sold Josemi and Antonio Nez, two of his first signings in English football, after they failed to establish themselves, with the likes of Peter Crouch, Mohamed Sissoko, Daniel Agger as well as former Liverpool player Robbie Fowler being brought in to strengthen the side. He smiled at me from behind his desk. "[27] Bentez did not reciprocate his owner's kind words, demanding his club's new owners had to back him in the transfer market in order for Liverpool to progress following his side's 21 loss to Milan in the final. I should have stayed a bit longer and trusted myself, I should have. In the blue corner, Kylian Mbappe stands tall as the undisputed champion of the world. [76][77] On 5 December 2012, Bentez recorded his first win as Chelsea manager, a 61 victory at home to Nordsjlland in the Champions League. It was as if the fans' reaction worked against me. [145], Bentez's father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. Connect with Liverpool fans from around the world in our official supporters group. In some ways, it is a surprise that Benitez lasted this long. 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. You said youd help me. After leaving Liverpool in June 2010, Bentez was appointed manager of treble-winning side Inter Milan. He started to get up to go but I told him to wait for a second. The situation is said to be dire and Leach may have suffered seizures. [111] However, the team was relegated to the Championship due to rivals Sunderland claiming 12 points from their final six fixtures. If they come back today to buy you, they need to double their offer as this is the last day of the transfer window.. Youre a big name, you can play anywhere at all. Liverpool were hit with budget restrictions in 2006, and then-reds boss Benitez was only given 10 million to spend on a right-midfielder. But it was Liverpool Football Club. May is a special month for. [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. Kimberly Goldson is getting some long overdue attention from fashion magazines for bold looks that she showed at NYFW. 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. When I look back I could have done things differently but at the same time I also think I could have got more guidance from the coaches.. Im not a defensive midfielder. May 25, 2005 is a date that will forever have its place in Liverpool FC folklore thanks to events at Istanbul's Ataturk Stadium. I was with the national side, before the World Cup, he recalled to the Times. Liverpool paid 20m when signing Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2009. And he still lives in Liverpool. "I was very young and I just needed guidance. [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. [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. The appointment is a controversial one, as Benitez spent six years at Anfield, winning the Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his spell. 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. 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. It was never really explained to me. He knows what he wants and how to get it. [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.

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