In a shrewd move, Benitez chose to air some of his grievences after the weekend match - “I need to talk to the board as soon as possible and clarify the situation,” he said “I need to resolve questions and I want some answers.” The Liverpool boss probably knows that without the Champions League to play for, he’d already be toast. But this way, should it all go wrong against Chelsea, he can point to the problems seeping down from the top, but should his team repeat their 2005 success, he will look like the man who kept his head while all around lost theirs.
He does have one problem, however: a history of problematic behaviour. Already, back in 2004, he flounced away from Valencia citing issues with the Director of Sport, Jesus Garcia Pitarch. “I asked for a table, they bought me a lampshade,” he grumped, in a metaphorical dig at the transfers.
Even current Liverpool honcho George Gillet once commented that Benitez is not just a good coach, but also “a savvy businessman, who knows what he wants and how to get it.”
The problems appear to arise when he doesn’t get it. Already this season he has parted ways with his assistant of eleven years, Pako Ayestaran, because he felt his old chum was getting a little bit too big for his boots. And with reports that Gillet and Hicks have yet to dip into their enormously wealthy pockets to give their manager what he wants in the transfer windows, the summer could well see him throwing all of his toys out of the pram and hurrumphing off to Real Madrid.
He seems intent on total control of the team - but does he deserve it? Is he just a bit spoilt? And would Klinsmann make a more palatable alternative?
12 responses so far
1 Alex Michaels // Apr 14, 2008 at 11:45 am
Largely uninformed and speculative article.
2 Kop // Apr 14, 2008 at 11:46 am
big baby you say? for most of us Liverpool supporters Benitez already proved he could keep his head up even tho we won nothing..most managers would have thrown the towel by now and we can all see that this is not the case.. THE PROBLEM IS UP TOP, we know it, Rafa knows it and the yanks know it too…
3 Pete // Apr 14, 2008 at 11:51 am
Of course he should get what he wants - because what he wants is in the best interests for the success of Liverpool FC.
4 Ian // Apr 14, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Whoever wrote this is a FOOL. Benitez is the best thing that happened to Liverpool since the days of Dalglish. He is quite simply a genius and deserves anything to make Liverpool FC great once again.
5 Ciarán // Apr 14, 2008 at 12:13 pm
There is no purpose to this article. Unfounded and speculative, tabloid journalism.
6 Dusty // Apr 14, 2008 at 12:22 pm
probably the best manager bar wenger in the prem, he will get what he wants and will probably go on and win the prem in a couple of years, regardless of what potato head hicks says or any of the board of mugs
7 Marc // Apr 14, 2008 at 12:34 pm
What a load of rubbish…
If Rafa is a baby, then what about Sir Alex’s tantrums after the Portsmouth game, which is what he does, every time things doesn’t go his way? So he is baby too, hah?
Please stop writing incredibly, ridiculous articles like this.
8 Stuart James // Apr 14, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Rafa? The biggest moaner bar Wenger in the prem, perhaps. The man is a fool, and the only trophies he has “won” for Liverpool were on penalty shoot-out. He’s spent an absolute fortune and is struggling to keep “small” teams like Everton out of the top four - and, if you look at the Right Results table, his side’s true position is nine points behind their Merseyside rivals. So imagine just how poor Rafa’s regime will look when his luck runs out. The man is a bad joke.
9 Ken // Apr 14, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Stuart James, you have nothing better to say? You are a joke yourself. Rafa a moaner? more than moyes? more than saf? more than wender? more than mourinhno? If penalty shoot-out is not part of football than you are watching a different kind of game. Go tell those officials in FA or UEFA.
10 Tone // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:43 am
@Stuart James - I think it’s been proven that Benitez hasn’t spent all that much at all. His outlays were almost totally covered by sales (all but 21m), now that we’ve ascertained that you’re shooting your mouth off without knowing even the most simple of facts we can happily discount the rest of your bitter, shortsighted rant.
11 Dusty // Apr 15, 2008 at 10:19 am
for more comments from stuart go to stuartjamesisaprick.com
12 RedMist // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:03 pm
only benitez is working in the best interests of the club - all others are money grabbing breadheads - including slick rick parry