Premier League - Rafa Benitez: The Spanish view

Eurosport - Wed, 25 Nov 13:57:00 2009

Rafael Benitez has come under fire following Liverpool's Champions League exit, but what do they think about him in his homeland?

2009-10 Champions League Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez - 0

We spoke to Sergio Gomez, football writer in our Spanish office, to get the Spanish view of Rafa and 'Spanish Liverpool'.

Eurosport-Yahoo!: How much coverage do Liverpool and Benitez generally receive in the Spanish media?

Sergio Gomez: Liverpool are covered in the pages of our mass media on an almost daily basis. Not only because of Benitez, but also because they have so many Spanish players. We usually call them Spanish Liverpool'.

E-Y!: What has been the newspaper/TV/radio reaction to Liverpool's Champions League exit?

SG: Liverpool's exit was something that most of the Spanish media expected to happen because of the way they have been playing. It is seen as a disappointment, but ultimately it means less of a hindrance for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla in the competition.

E-Y!: What is Benitez's reputation like in Spain? Do people blame him for Liverpool's problems?

SG: His reputation in Spain is very good. He did a great job at Valencia (winning La Liga twice), and then of course he won the Champions League with Liverpool. The two wins over Real Madrid last season are still very much in the memory of Madrid fans. We don't really see him as the man at the heart of Liverpool's failure this season. The team has been inconsistent, but has also been unlucky with results and injuries.

E-Y!: How does he deal with the Spanish media?

SG: He doesn't really speak much to the Spanish media. But then he never did when he was here either.

E-Y!: Are there teams who would be interested in him if he got sacked, such as Real Madrid perhaps?

SG: Of course Real Madrid would be interested, because that is where he is from and where he started his career. But there are many teams in La Liga who would be interested in hiring Rafa, including Atletico Madrid.

Eurosport

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  1. jose mourinho is not the man to lfc.. if he comes to­ liverpool he needs money to bring a a new players. so­ all liverpool fans, please stop moaning about bring in­ a new manager especially mourinho.. if mourinho­ replace benitez the same thing will happen.. even­ mourinho have to change his name to­ "moan"rinho..

    From Del Reds Piero, on Thu 26 Nov 11:45AM

  2. he has to go ....bring in mourihno... some of the­ players RB bought are just not good enough...

    From stevenkop, on Thu 26 Nov 6:51AM

  3. Send him back to spain, he's worthless in England.

    From farid wajdi, on Thu 26 Nov 12:13AM

  4. Liverpool fans and management are really good at­ fabricating and squeezing the stats that give them hope­ they might finish Top4 or even win the EPL this season.­ It is amazing that they forget the big picture. This is­ a team that did nothing in the last 4 years and this­ year it has done worst in its history of the last 15­ years. If you don't see that you are having serious­ problems with Benitass on helm then you are blind or­ blinded. Liverpool will finish 7th or 8th this season­ and if you don't see that you are either naive or a­ dumb idiot

    From Half A Brain, on Thu 26 Nov 12:13AM

  5. lfc-endofseasonparty with a dot/com, just for you rafa

    From optimus prime, on Wed 25 Nov 10:07PM

  6. 45, jack. i'll be round to pocket your protection­ money in a mo sunshine.

    From Koppite 1973, on Wed 25 Nov 8:51PM

  7. £6,324 41p thankyou rafa,everyone thought i was mad but­ i have won the money hope they keep him.liverscum are­ the best to have a bet on, not let me down yet,need­ them to finish outside of the top 4 the bet i had in­ may looked a bit silly not now yyeeeeeepppppeeeeee and­ then on for some real money fingers crossed.

    From jack, on Wed 25 Nov 8:02PM

  8. good teams are not always about the names in the club­ but the managements....

    From Saiful, on Wed 25 Nov 7:03PM

  9. tomas.americano .... "He does more with less­­ talent than most any other manager" yes, but it­ was him that bought those players, so hes the reason­ theres less talent there... are am I missing something?

    From doggs, on Wed 25 Nov 7:02PM

  10. Can I say, That the Squad you have at Liverpool is a­ very good one that if they are organised, Motivated and­ have their Morale lifted, are capable of finishing in­ the Top 4 of the E.P.L. this season even after all the­ defeats already.
    In previous seasons the Champions had­ only lost at most 3 games but the top teams this season­ seem to be more susceptible to losing than in previous­ seasons.

    So Don't give Up just yet

    From Ronnie, on Wed 25 Nov 6:29PM

  11. Dear booesp, have you mis-read my comment? I don't­ understand what you're trying to say. In fact,­ you're practically agreeing with me. "The­ British media report things as they are"...MY­ arse! lol. They sensationalize everything they report!!­ (btw when I say British media, I really mean the London­ press) Scumbags the lot of them!!

    From n1r3d, on Wed 25 Nov 6:21PM

  12. HE SHOULD STAY HE SPREKS BETTER ENGLISH THAN OLD RED­ NOSE ,WHO SHOULD WITHOUT DOUBT CLIMB BACK OVER THE WALL­ AND GO HOME

    From rawest1, on Wed 25 Nov 6:20PM

  13. Rafa is not the problem at Liverpool. The one smart­ decision by their ownership is to support him. As far­ as I can tell, the Liverpool fans are among the­ quickest to abandon their coaches and players as any­ team in all of sports. Liverpool is headed for a dark­ period if they let Rafa go. He does more with less­ talent than most any other manager. Liverpool needs him­ more than he needs them. The "fat Spanish­ waiter" references are just stupid.

    From tomas.americano, on Wed 25 Nov 6:06PM

  14. Ignoring all the idiotic extremist pro and con rubbish­ that's written here I will say on behalf of every­ neutral in the country that Liverpool have too many­ average players to be a force in the premiership.­ They'll be hovering around near the top of the­ table because they are Liverpool, but don't expect­ them to win anything with the current team.

    From Andrew, on Wed 25 Nov 6:03PM

  15. 21 in rafa u still lose idiot

    From sheshe aimar, on Wed 25 Nov 5:52PM

  16. I hope all you Pool fans will be showing your support­ for MAN_UTD tonight.xx hehehehehehehehehe

    From selfpitycity, on Wed 25 Nov 5:48PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    if this fat spanish waiter has some decency , he should­ resign . He is a big fat f........g spanish waiter who­ must drink p........... of alex

    From vinay, on Wed 25 Nov 5:41PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    as fan of reds since ray kennedy and ayan roche­ liverpool has no manager and no players execpt seteve­ glen kuyt they need to do some clean up from top to­ bottom start all again

    From mhamed, on Wed 25 Nov 5:41PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i think that liverpool will finish 10th but it depends­ who theyll get this season

    From Luke, on Wed 25 Nov 5:22PM

  20. all these are stupid says last season Man U took the­ trophy after comming from the seventeen position which­ triples the current Liverpool postion of being 7th , 13­ Points below leaders Celsea, I believe Liverpool can­ still take the premiership and remains the best club­ in the world's history of ballancing the trophies­ ( Championship Not like Arsenal, Premiership Not like­ any club in England, FA like man U and Arsenal, Euro­ cup Not like any club in Europe. Liverpool is not with­ poor record in anny trophy thanks by Mr Men from Sudan­ (Africa)

    From Mahamud, on Wed 25 Nov 5:08PM
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