But his constant instructions really restricted me. 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. 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. I should have stayed a bit longer and trusted myself, I should have. on July 16, 2010. You didnt mean it., I cannot let you go on loan. While Premier League Team A vs Premier League Team B is meant to be the main attraction of the Sky Sports show . "[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. In truth, he didnt have time to as Benitez made it clear early on that he had no future at the club. This is what hurts me. [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. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy. What is going on with my transfer?, I will be honest with you, I am not interested in loaning you. At half-time of the Champions League final, Benitez's Reds were 3-0 . 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. "I was disappointed and that is all. Geplaatst op 3 juli 2022 door 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. Besides, people are treating me as if I don't exist any more. "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. The 50-year-old, who only took charge 18 months ago, finished 15 points c Bentez argued he needed to rotate his small squad to ensure key players were fit for the latter stages of these knockout competitions. . Rafa Benitez promised me a certain development, but very quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different situation. But once Benitez had decided to sacrifice Alonso to bring in Barry, the writing was on the wall. [41] Alonso said that Bentez's attempts to sell him the previous summer were a deciding factor in his move. Whether it was wrong or right to let him go or whether his time in charge of Liverpool could be considered a success or not . Rafael "Rafa" Bentez Maudes (born 16 April 1960) is a Spanish football manager who was the manager of Liverpool from 2004-2010. [8], Bentez subsequently quit Extremadura and took a year off from football to study in England and Italy. I was with the national side, before the World Cup, he recalled to the Times. It was not easy, my job is not a normal job and it was not just any game, but I never regretted it. 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. By the way, we won 0-1 with a goal from Torres.. 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 raised my voice. 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. [123], Under Benitez Everton enjoyed a winning streak across the Premier League and EFL Cup in their first four games. Signed in an 8m from Espanyol in the summer of 2008, he featured regularly in his first season with the club as Liverpool fell narrowly short in the Premier League title-race. During the 199697 season, Bentez took charge at Osasuna in the Segunda Divisin, but after only nine games and one win, he was dismissed. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why. Plenty predicted that Benitez's name would be sung at Anfield more than Goodison and so it proved. Ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez linked with managerial return after Everton sacking. "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. [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. 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. I was really upset. Ill get 800,000, great, but I cant spend it today and Ill be five months without an experienced reserve goalkeeper. I have a normal relationship with Rafa. 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. LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United monitoring Lewandowski's future. "Just before I left Liverpool last January was when they brought in Pellegrino," he told the Mail on Sunday. I said: 'You need me now and I will always do my best. I scored against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final. [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 I remember thinking, oh my, this is going to be trouble, this is going to be difficult for me'. 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. 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. "I was very young and I just needed guidance. "Liverpool remains the place where I have suffered the most as a footballer, above all during the last season. [112] On 25 May 2016, it was confirmed that Bentez would remain as manager. Then the focus is on a remarkable last . "We were going into labour, and I told Rafa that I could not go. Benitez just shook his head Id got the sack, plain and simple. Im still trying to come to terms with the disappointment of whats just happened and now you tell me you want to get rid of me. [78] This was followed by a 31 away victory to Sunderland, with Bentez presiding over his first league win as Chelsea manager. [62][63] On 23 December 2010, just five days after bringing Inter to the triumph, Bentez was dismissed by Inter. By Rafa Benitez May 24, 2020 Happy Istanbul Day! "When you have so many instructions, it makes it so difficult. What if Pepe gets injured next week? It was the club's 10th Premier League defeat of the season - and their ninth in their last 12 league matches - to leave . [12], On 16 June 2004, Bentez was appointed manager of Liverpool, replacing Grard Houllier, becoming the first Spaniard to manage in the Premier League. [40], Prior to Bentez's final season at Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, one of the key members of Bentez's squad, was sold to Real Madrid following a lengthy pursuit in a deal reportedly worth 30million. Bentez said, "My heart is with Liverpool, so I'm delighted to sign this new deal, I love the club, the fans and the city and with a club and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying. The. I have some offers. Benitez, 50, replaced Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager in June 2004 and. Ralf Rangnick may yet be right about Liverpool and Man United as Jurgen Klopp sends subtle transfer warning, Manchester United are having a better season that Liverpool, that cannot be questioned, but Theo Squires wonders whether there has been a long-term power shift, Roberto Firmino's agent breaks silence on 'unbelievably emotional' Liverpool exit, Roberto Firmino refused to hold talks with other clubs before deciding his Liverpool future, according to his agent, Liverpool predicted line-up for Manchester United as Jurgen Klopp makes two huge calls, How Liverpool could line up against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League, John Barnes makes 'worried' Liverpool v Manchester United admission and Mohamed Salah goals point. [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. "Rafa is a top manager and he's proven that. "[14], One of Bentez's first tasks at Liverpool was to convince club captain Steven Gerrard not to move to Chelsea. Yet he scored just one Premier League goal in the second half of the season and was sold to Aston Villa in the summer of 2005, starting his final game for the Reds as they famously beat AC Milan to win the Champions League. On 21 August 2010, Bentez won his first trophy as manager, the Italian Super Cup, after they defeated Roma 31. As a right winger/midfielder, Steven Gerrard had the most productive seasons trophy-wise, claiming a Champions League title, and an FA Cup. In his second interview he said: "I do not want to make trouble with the manager. 20th Sep 2022, 7:39am. Ultimately you have to trust the players once they cross the white line. 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. A lot of people at Liverpool treated me well and asked me to stay, but I could not turn down such a massive club as Chelsea. Perhaps the most obvious name on this list. Classy timing'.". Benitez spent six years as Liverpool manager, winning the Champions League in 2005 and reaching the final of the competition in 2007. [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. It was suggested that Bentez's position was now under serious threat. [93], On 27 May 2013, it was announced that Bentez had signed for Napoli, whose manager Walter Mazzarri had resigned. [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. Liverpool finished. [65][66][67][68] He was unveiled as the new Chelsea manager at a press conference on 22 November 2012. [134] Bentez's ruthlessness can also be seen in the way he disposed of all but Gerrard and Jamie Carragher from his Champions League winning squad within four seasons, with penalty shoot-out hero Jerzy Dudek made back-up goalkeeper the very season after the European triumph. Mr Benitez relinquishes his position as team manager after six years and the Board of Directors would. The next couple of days were a couple of the hardest days of my life. His mother is Rosario Maudes. [100], Bentez announced that he would resign at the end of the 201415 season. "I'm the king of the exiles here so, as far as I'm concerned, it's finished for me at Liverpool," he said. [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. 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. "But if I am not playing I have no chance of going to the World Cup, so I am trying to solve the problem so I at least have a small chance.''. Yet he scored just one Premier League goal in the second half of the season and was sold to Aston Villa in. He didnt know I spent my whole childhood dreaming of playing for Liverpool, he didnt know I had all those memories and feelings. The coach and myself were not compatible. 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. [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.