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Originally Posted by Hermes
Benitez blasts Valencia
Tuesday, 20 July 2004
l
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has launched a fierce broadside at former club Valencia and insists he was forced out of the Spanish club by a lack of support.
Benitez left Valencia in acrimonious circumstances after leading the Mestalla outfit to a Spanish league and Uefa Cup double last term.
He chose to walk away to take charge of Liverpool despite having one year left on his contract.
The Primera outfit are now threatening to take legal action against the former Tenerife coach, but he insists that his former club are showing double standards and have no-one but themselves to blame for his departure.
Benitez had a very strained relationship with Valencia's director general Manuel Llorente and director of sport Jesus Garcia Pitarch and claims it was their lack of interest during contract negotiations that made his mind up to leave.
When asked why he left, Benitez told Marca: "Obviously through lack of support and not being valued.
"Some people want to spread the idea that my relationship with the club is bad, but I am very grateful to Valencia and their fans.
"However, the person (Llorente) who negotiated with my agent did not have much interest in me continuing at the club but now we seem like the bad guys.
"He (Llorente) took the negotiations for two months and all the evidence and testimonies indicated that he was simultaneously interested in other coaches when I still had a year on my contract.
"Two months of negotiations is enough time for you to realise the interest and valuation they have of you."
Benitez also slammed Valencia's decision to launch a legal action against him.
"It's incredible that they can demand damages from us when the president, Mr Orti, said in an interview that there was no bad intention from me and that I had not caused damage to the club.
"I believe it is a strategy to get some money from Liverpool and I don't understand it.
"I can only think the explanation is that someone wants to try and justify their errors and they have been made to believe that doing it through the courts makes it look like they are being strong to the fans.
"I believe that the majority of the (Valencia) fans have realised what was going on and events since have proved the lack of support we had."
Benitez also revealed that Liverpool was not the only job offer that he had received, but insisted that despite not being his most financially attractive option he always wanted to go to Anfield.
He went on to add that he did not plan to raid his former club for players despite being linked with the likes of Roberto Ayala, Pablo Aimar and Mista.
"Of the options I had it (Liverpool's) was the most attractive in terms of the project and length of the contract.
"There were others that were better economically, but it was the most interesting on a sporting level.
"Despite the misinformed rumours that have come from the club (Valencia) that (going back for players) is not my intention.
"I don't want the fans to think that I want to do damage to the Valencia. Only if there was interest from both sides would I consider it."
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haha
That last quote: Fucking funny little get out clause from the man there!!
Sounds to me like he's paving the way for one or two Valencia players to come aboard. Set his stall out from the off so everyone knows the truth nnehind anything that MIGHT happen. Then it's not totally unexpected for both sets of fans... and more importantly so that the Valencia fans don't try to shoot him in the face him when he pops home for Chrimbo to see Mama mia.
I do kinda wish, though, that Managers would just keep quiet about these things (all this "slamming of former employers", business) instead of letting the media in on every move. How can that be good??
You should let the lawyers mess with that shit imo. Lets just get on with the footy.
On the otehr hand, though, I kinda like the way he'll stand up for himself and just lay it out for people decide. It's a bit cool. Sort of.
