Jose Reina bombshell: I may leave if Rafa goes from Liverpool this summer

[StevieH]

Jose Reina bombshell: I may leave if Rafa goes from Liverpool this summer - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has admitted he would consider leaving Liverpool if coach Rafael Benitez departs in the summer, describing life at the club without the Spaniard as unimaginable.

Benitez’s future has been in doubt since it was revealed that meetings were held with former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann with a view to him replacing Benitez at the end of the season.

The situation worsened recently when the Spanish coach discovered that Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry was involved in what he believed were meetings held behind his back.

Since his arrival on Merseyside in 2003 Benitez has brought a considerable contingent of Spanish talent to Anfield.

Reina arrived in 2005 from Villarreal and enjoyed a good start to life in England when he starred in that season’s FA Cup final penalty shoot-out against West Ham.

And now he says while his allegiance is to Liverpool and not the coach, he would have to consider his options should Benitez go.

“I can’t imagine being at Liverpool without Rafael Benitez.” Reina told Eurosport.

“My contract is with Liverpool, not Rafa Benitez, but I owe a lot to Rafa because he was the one who trusted me at that moment, brought me to Liverpool and supported me, and of course the mutual affection is there. We will have to wait.

“Like I say, my contract is with Liverpool, but if the coach moves and there is the possibility of me joining him, if he coaches another team, of course I would think about that.”

Reina added that Benitez should remain at Anfield as he is building something big, proven by the fact that the club are fighting to play in their third Champions League final in four years.

“The Liverpool project is based upon the way of working of the coach,” he said.

“Rafa is building something that is growing each year, and the results are there. We will have reached three finals in four years if we are lucky against Chelsea, which is very impressive.

“Every year we have a better team and are more competitive.

“With an idea and philosophy of the game he has tried to find the best players. It is a project for the medium or long term.”

[Remington]

Is only right. Every player should eventually be free to go if Rafa leaves (for a reasonable fee ofcourse). Each manager builds his own team.

[rebel23]

and Torres would no doubt follow his mate

that's why we need a director of football.. players should sign for the club not the manager

[StevieH]

But what happens if the director of football moves on though?

[TommyW]

players signed by a director of football would still know who their manager will be and seeing as they work with them day in day out will build relationships with them so I dont see how having a director would be the answer to stopping this sort of thing

[StevieH]

Directors of Football move on too, just as Frank Arnesen did when he left Spurs for Chelsea. It is a fact of life that people move on in all professions.

[rebel23]

I don't know but the player wouldn't feel such an attachment to a manager, at least less likely to in my opinion, the manager should always be transient rather than constant upheavel if he ever left

[theghost]

Originally Posted by rebel23

I don't know but the player wouldn't feel such an attachment to a manager, at least less likely to in my opinion, the manager should always be transient rather than constant upheavel if he ever left

Chatting shit as usual, then.

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by rebel23

I don't know but the player wouldn't feel such an attachment to a manager, at least less likely to in my opinion, the manager should always be transient rather than constant upheavel if he ever left

Who would be an ideal Director of Football for LFC in your opinion?

[rebel23]

well think about it, the average shelf life of a manager in the Premier league isnt that long (despite Wenger and Slur), you have to take that into account, it has to be made clear that players are signing for the club not Benitez

[Remington]

Originally Posted by StevieH

Who would be an ideal Director of Football for LFC in your opinion?

Rashid

[Strontium Dog]

Good for Pepe. I wish more of our players would have the guts to back the manager like this.

[rebel23]

Originally Posted by StevieH

Who would be an ideal Director of Football for LFC in your opinion?

someone with experience and a track record, stop asking me tough questions

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by Remington

Rashid

Would he want to commute from St Albans though or could he simply advise Rafa via email?

[Remington]

Originally Posted by StevieH

could he simply advise Rafa via email?

I doubt Rafa could handle that.

[TommyW]

but look at it the other way, if we didnt have Rafa but say we did have someone like Arneson as Director of Football would Pepe, Xabi and Torres have signed?

Not a chance

they signed for us and took the leap to come over here because they knew of and respected Rafa

[Liam]

I want the manager and players to have a bond. It brings the best out of players and gives them confidence.

[Paul]

That is music to my ears. It's so hugely reassuring to see Rafa get that level of public backing from one of our best and most important players.

[RedinSweden]

Originally Posted by StevieH

But what happens if the director of football moves on though?

What if the club moves on? What then eh?

[StevieH]

Originally Posted by RedinSweden

What if the club moves on? What then eh?

Then we are all doomed Captain Mainwaring.