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Rafael Benítez on the brink of leaving Liverpool over Anfield rift


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Exclusive Rafa Benitez interview by Guillem Balague: Liverpool have been competitive under my tenure - MirrorFootball.co.uk

 

Rafa Benitez has launched a passionate defence of his Liverpool record as he prepares to extend his stay at Anfield.

 

The Liverpool chief, who arrived at the club in 2004 and led them to an incredible Champions League victory at the end of his first season, insists he does not deserve the increasingly hostile criticism his reign has received.

 

When Liverpool won the FA Cup the following year Benitez became the first manager in the club’s history to win a trophy in each one of his first two seasons, and he says: “There is this legend that Liverpool hasn’t won many trophies, that we have failed in that aspect. Well, Chelsea and Manchester United have won 10 trophies in the six years I’ve been in Liverpool; Arsenal, Spurs and Portsmouth one.

 

“Liverpool? Four trophies and we have played in three (more) finals. Liverpool have been competitive”.

 

Now he wants to fight on, taking the club as far as he can despite having smaller budgets than his rivals. Benitez revealed he feels his methods are misunderstood and his achievements underestimated during one of the toughest periods in the recent history of the club.

 

He responded to accusations that he employs defensive or negative tactics, by pointing out his side has scored 61.8 goals per season in the league and an average of 97.5 in all competitions during his time at the club and asks: “Does Liverpool have to win the league, as everybody demands, every year?”

 

Benitez added that in two of his six seasons at Anfield, their record points tally for a season has been broken.

 

But the Spaniard has been reckons he has not always had as much control that he would have liked at the club.

 

“Does the manager have absolute power in England?” said Benitez, “No, it depends on a budget and on the executive director that negotiates the signings of players.

 

“And it depends on the money you have and the intelligence with which you operate in the market place.

 

“Look at the wages picked up by the players on Chelsea or Manchester United’s substitutes bench: Obi Mikel, Owen, Kalou, Berbatov, Carrick could be on £4m a year!

 

“When Portsmouth offered Peter Crouch more money than we were paying him and promised him a starting place, it became very complicated for us to keep hold of him. The arrival of Fernando Torres meant he couldn’t play as often at Liverpool.”

 

Benitez has been accused of signing bad players, but an inability to compete with the game’s top spenders and a lack of funds meant he was unable to complete the signings of several players.

 

Instead of Dani Alves, Florent Malouda, Jack Rodwell and Gareth Barry Liverpool often have often ended up with the manager’s back-up options.

 

“That is always a risk when expectations and demands are so high” added Benitez.

 

He also claims to have turned Liverpool into one of the most valuable sporting assets in the world. When he arrived, he was told the club was valued at £80million. According to the American owner’s asking price, it is now worth £500m.

 

Likewise, the squad’s value has increased from £100m to £300m.

 

“Some people say I have spent £280m,” said Benitez. “But we have spent £220m on players and generated £160m in player sales. That is the equivalent of a £60m net spend over six years: in other words, £10m spent per year. Deduct from that figure the £120m revenue from the Champions League success and qualification over that period, and we have in fact generated an additional £60m benefits for the club.”

 

Benitez took control of the Anfield youth set-up only last year. He said: “Only four players from the Liverpool academy – Warnock, Gerrard, Owen and Carragher – from the last 13 years play in the Premier League.

 

“We have spent £5m on young players in six years – Arsenal has spent £15m on Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey alone.”

 

Rafa Benitez will stay at Liverpool if they want him - Exclusive by Guillem Balague - MirrorFootball.co.uk

 

Rafa Benitez is staying at Liverpool.

 

After weeks of speculation about his future friends say he wants to remain on Merseyside “if he is allowed”.

 

Juventus and Inter Milan have wanted to end his six years in charge of Liverpool, but despite a difficult season Benitez has decided he will continue at Anfield.

 

Controversial American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are looking to sell up, but Benitez is prepared to deal with the uncertainty believing he can take the club back into the top four and challenge for major trophies.

Edited by YNWA12
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Nonsense?

 

As a defender Arbeloa was in another league, and no, not a lower one.

 

As a right-back, Johnson is in another league to Arbeloa, both literally and metaphorically.

 

“Some people say I have spent £280m,” said Benitez. “But we have spent £220m on players and generated £160m in player sales. That is the equivalent of a £60m net spend over six years: in other words, £10m spent per year. Deduct from that figure the £120m revenue from the Champions League success and qualification over that period, and we have in fact generated an additional £60m benefits for the club.”

 

Wow, good for him. He managed to sell most of the shite he's bought. Bra-vo.

 

The only thing more desperate would be bragging about having won the Charity Shield and Super Cup.

Edited by The Dude Abides
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More half arsed spin shite from Balague.

 

What the fuck has subs bench wages got to do with anything? Aquilani has picked splinters out of his arse most of the season, he must be on the best part of 4m a year yet here he is clearly speculating without foundation what other players from other clubs may earn which is straw clutching putting it mildly.

 

As for the Crouch stuff....

 

You can change formations from time to time Rafa it doesn't always have to be about 4-2-3-1. You are clinging on to that formation for dear life when in reality it suited Alonso and a firing on all cylinders Torres and Stevie to work properly.

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More half arsed spin shite from Balague.

 

What the fuck has subs bench wages got to do with anything? Aquilani has picked splinters out of his arse most of the season, he must be on the best part of 4m a year yet here he is clearly speculating without foundation what other players from other clubs may earn which is straw clutching putting it mildly.

 

As for the Crouch stuff....

 

You can change formations from time to time Rafa it doesn't always have to be about 4-2-3-1. You are clinging on to that formation for dear life when in reality it suited Alonso and a firing on all cylinders Torres and Stevie to work properly.

 

I would say that's more common than a 4-4-2 in the premiership now.

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That may be true but do we really have the personnel to play it without Torres and Gerrard? Sometimes you need to have the odd plan B or C.

 

For me we can't unless we get another striker who can compliment Torres.

 

Dirk should be back up and work on his first touch, once he's got that sorted he could rotate between the two strikers on a regular basis, saving Torres from being broken as much.

 

All in theory of course.

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Exclusive Rafa Benitez interview by Guillem Balague: Liverpool have been competitive under my tenure - MirrorFootball.co.uk

 

 

 

Rafa Benitez has launched a passionate defence of his Liverpool record as he prepares to extend his stay at Anfield.

 

The Liverpool chief, who arrived at the club in 2004 and led them to an incredible Champions League victory at the end of his first season, insists he does not deserve the increasingly hostile criticism his reign has received.

 

When Liverpool won the FA Cup the following year Benitez became the first manager in the club’s history to win a trophy in each one of his first two seasons, and he says: “There is this legend that Liverpool hasn’t won many trophies, that we have failed in that aspect. Well, Chelsea and Manchester United have won 10 trophies in the six years I’ve been in Liverpool; Arsenal, Spurs and Portsmouth one.

 

“Liverpool? Four trophies and we have played in three (more) finals. Liverpool have been competitive”.

 

Now he wants to fight on, taking the club as far as he can despite having smaller budgets than his rivals. Benitez revealed he feels his methods are misunderstood and his achievements underestimated during one of the toughest periods in the recent history of the club.

 

He responded to accusations that he employs defensive or negative tactics, by pointing out his side has scored 61.8 goals per season in the league and an average of 97.5 in all competitions during his time at the club and asks: “Does Liverpool have to win the league, as everybody demands, every year?”

 

Benitez added that in two of his six seasons at Anfield, their record points tally for a season has been broken.

 

But the Spaniard has been reckons he has not always had as much control that he would have liked at the club.

 

“Does the manager have absolute power in England?” said Benitez, “No, it depends on a budget and on the executive director that negotiates the signings of players.

 

“And it depends on the money you have and the intelligence with which you operate in the market place.

 

“Look at the wages picked up by the players on Chelsea or Manchester United’s substitutes bench: Obi Mikel, Owen, Kalou, Berbatov, Carrick could be on £4m a year!

 

“When Portsmouth offered Peter Crouch more money than we were paying him and promised him a starting place, it became very complicated for us to keep hold of him. The arrival of Fernando Torres meant he couldn’t play as often at Liverpool.”

 

Benitez has been accused of signing bad players, but an inability to compete with the game’s top spenders and a lack of funds meant he was unable to complete the signings of several players.

 

Instead of Dani Alves, Florent Malouda, Jack Rodwell and Gareth Barry Liverpool often have often ended up with the manager’s back-up options.

 

“That is always a risk when expectations and demands are so high” added Benitez.

 

He also claims to have turned Liverpool into one of the most valuable sporting assets in the world. When he arrived, he was told the club was valued at £80million. According to the American owner’s asking price, it is now worth £500m.

 

Likewise, the squad’s value has increased from £100m to £300m.

 

“Some people say I have spent £280m,” said Benitez. “But we have spent £220m on players and generated £160m in player sales. That is the equivalent of a £60m net spend over six years: in other words, £10m spent per year. Deduct from that figure the £120m revenue from the Champions League success and qualification over that period, and we have in fact generated an additional £60m benefits for the club.”

 

Benitez took control of the Anfield youth set-up only last year. He said: “Only four players from the Liverpool academy – Warnock, Gerrard, Owen and Carragher – from the last 13 years play in the Premier League.

 

“We have spent £5m on young players in six years – Arsenal has spent £15m on Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey alone.”]

 

Slip of the pen or slip of the Freud?

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He needs to as he costs so much. He's bought as a defender, if he can't do that, what's the point?

 

He is a good defender, as well, however he was clearly brought in to provide more width in the attack. The point is really that the whole team has to "blend", players do not perform in a vacuum. If you have a defender who goes forward as much as Johnson does, you either need a Kuyt type to balance it or a DM to cover or massively fast CBs. This year we did not blend, the total team performance never looked balanced.

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He is a good defender, as well, however he was clearly brought in to provide more width in the attack. The point is really that the whole team has to "blend", players do not perform in a vacuum. If you have a defender who goes forward as much as Johnson does, you either need a Kuyt type to balance it or a DM to cover or massively fast CBs. This year we did not blend, the total team performance never looked balanced.

 

He is as poor a defender as anyone who's played at the club since benitez has been here. If you think he's good, there's no point in discussing it.

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Exclusive Rafa Benitez interview by Guillem Balague: Liverpool have been competitive under my tenure - MirrorFootball.co.ukRafa Benitez has launched a passionate defence of his Liverpool record as he prepares to extend his stay at Anfield.

 

The Liverpool chief, who arrived at the club in 2004 and led them to an incredible Champions League victory at the end of his first season, insists he does not deserve the increasingly hostile criticism his reign has received.

 

When Liverpool won the FA Cup the following year Benitez became the first manager in the club’s history to win a trophy in each one of his first two seasons, and he says: “There is this legend that Liverpool hasn’t won many trophies, that we have failed in that aspect. Well, Chelsea and Manchester United have won 10 trophies in the six years I’ve been in Liverpool; Arsenal, Spurs and Portsmouth one.

 

“Liverpool? Four trophies and we have played in three (more) finals. Liverpool have been competitive”.

 

Now he wants to fight on, taking the club as far as he can despite having smaller budgets than his rivals. Benitez revealed he feels his methods are misunderstood and his achievements underestimated during one of the toughest periods in the recent history of the club.

 

He responded to accusations that he employs defensive or negative tactics, by pointing out his side has scored 61.8 goals per season in the league and an average of 97.5 in all competitions during his time at the club and asks: “Does Liverpool have to win the league, as everybody demands, every year?”

 

Benitez added that in two of his six seasons at Anfield, their record points tally for a season has been broken.

 

But the Spaniard has been reckons he has not always had as much control that he would have liked at the club.

 

“Does the manager have absolute power in England?” said Benitez, “No, it depends on a budget and on the executive director that negotiates the signings of players.

 

“And it depends on the money you have and the intelligence with which you operate in the market place.

“Look at the wages picked up by the players on Chelsea or Manchester United’s substitutes bench: Obi Mikel, Owen, Kalou, Berbatov, Carrick could be on £4m a year!

 

“When Portsmouth offered Peter Crouch more money than we were paying him and promised him a starting place, it became very complicated for us to keep hold of him. The arrival of Fernando Torres meant he couldn’t play as often at Liverpool.”

 

Benitez has been accused of signing bad players, but an inability to compete with the game’s top spenders and a lack of funds meant he was unable to complete the signings of several players.

 

Instead of Dani Alves, Florent Malouda, Jack Rodwell and Gareth Barry Liverpool often have often ended up with the manager’s back-up options.

 

“That is always a risk when expectations and demands are so high” added Benitez.

 

He also claims to have turned Liverpool into one of the most valuable sporting assets in the world. When he arrived, he was told the club was valued at £80million. According to the American owner’s asking price, it is now worth £500m.

Likewise, the squad’s value has increased from £100m to £300m.

 

Jesus fucking Christ. Still pedaling this shite.

 

“Some people say I have spent £280m,” said Benitez. “But we have spent £220m on players and generated £160m in player sales. That is the equivalent of a £60m net spend over six years: in other words, £10m spent per year. Deduct from that figure the £120m revenue from the Champions League success and qualification over that period, and we have in fact generated an additional £60m benefits for the club.”

 

Benitez took control of the Anfield youth set-up only last year. He said: “Only four players from the Liverpool academy – Warnock, Gerrard, Owen and Carragher – from the last 13 years play in the Premier League.

 

“We have spent £5m on young players in six years – Arsenal has spent £15m on Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey alone.”

Oh fucking woe is me, eh Rafa. Makes me wonder why with so many things wrong with your job, your still here. Could it be because of your wife's love of her lifestyle ? and no other club with CL football has been stupid enough to give you a job on the ludicrous conditions you have here ?

 

One of the most nauseating pieces of cum guzzling shite I've read. Move over Tompkins, there's a new kid in town.

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I know at the start of the season the mancs signed Valencia for £20m plus as the season progressed they have signed two youngsters for a combined fee of about £20 so like Piscinin posted that £40m of the fee gone there.

 

That is still minus 40 million down, can you imagine the whining coming out of Benitez if that was the case? Ferguson is a much better manager than Benitez unfortunately for us, even Moyes on much less of a budget has built an Everton team that will be stronger than ours when we lose maybe Gerrard and Mascherano, what will be the reason for that?

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Oh fucking woe is me' date=' eh Rafa. Makes me wonder why with so many things wrong with your job, your still here. Could it be because of your wife's love of her lifestyle ? and no other club with CL football has been stupid enough to give you a job on the ludicrous conditions you have here ?

 

One of the most nauseating pieces of cum guzzling shite I've read. Move over Tompkins, there's a new kid in town.[/quote']

 

Totally agree mate, it is insulting if he thinks the fans are expected to swallow that bullshit, no amount of PR from Benitez and his sidekick will convince me that he is doing a good job at the moment, he never shuts the fuck up with his shite lately, thanks for Istanbul now please fuck off.

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