Rafael Benitez has hit back at Roy Hodgson’s comments over the past week concerning the size of the Anfield task, and allegations that Benitez marginalised Kenny Dalglish at Anfield.
Rafa Benitez brought Dalglish back to the club in July 2009, and the Spaniard was understood to have been especially angry about this allegation.
The former reds boss was asked about the Dalglish story by Sky Italia and then transcribed his response to the English press, also asking him about it in last night’s press conference in London.
“I think that Mr Hodgson, he doesn’t understand,” said Benitez.
“Every single press conference is even worse than the last one. He’s talking about things that he doesn’t know. And some people cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugar.
“Maybe he hasn’t been in Liverpool too long. We gave the fans their pride – again. We fought for the fans, we fought for the club and we fought for our players. So maybe he cannot understand this.
“I brought back Kenny Dalglish to do a role in the club. And Christian Purslow gave him another role. So he doesn’t know. But I will explain to him.|
“So, instead of talking about flips and flops, he has to concentrate on his players, try to do his best. He has a good job to do.
“He has signed 9 players. With £10m net spending, I left that squad with £300m value, 13 internationals. So instead of talking about flips and flops he has to concentrate on his job, try to do his best and don’t talk about the level of his players, or the new players, or something like this.
“Concentrate, try to do your best because it will be the best for the club and it will be the best for the fans.”
Roy Hodgson meanwhile may have bigger problems today when John W Henry arrives at Anfield.
ditch his current car and start racing in a Ford Sierra?
sign some duds, but then name a manger that hasn’t. Overall he improved the quality of the squad and this is evidenced by our improvement in league and european form over his 6 year tenure. the 86 points achieved in 08/09 would have won 7 of the 11 PL titles competed for pre Roman Abramovich, so in reality Rafa gave us our best ever side in the PL era. How a man with Rafa’s CV can be replaced by Roy Hodgson, I don’t know. If Lewis Hamilton wants to win the F1 title again, will he
Liverpool made a huge mistake in removing Rafa Benitez from his job. It is obvious to me now that Rafa was never sacked for footballing reasons. One poor season out of 6 very progressive and succesful ones is no grounds for the sack. He was removed becuase he posed too much of a threat to the former owners of the club and to Christian Purslow and Martin Broughton. The fans were on Rafa’s side when it came to rallying against the hierarchy, so the hierarchy hired a ‘yes’ man instead.
Rafa did
This is a clear sign that Roy has no idea what he is doing in of Liverpool Football Club. He tries to criticise a Manager who is far superior to him. Rafa should be brought back since his last year was destroyed by Christian Purslow……….Roy will never achieve anything as a Manager, hence him being famous for losing the Europa league cup. He lacks the tactical genius to mix it with the big boys, so do the right thing and step aside Roy. The players and the fans are suffering at your methods
I am no great Hodgson fan but he’s correct in saying that our former manager wasted million’s on dud’s so what’s the problem!?.
Our current team is what Rafa has left us with including the many expensive flops so Rafa please shut up!
Rafa deserves our support. Everything he did, he did for the fans and for Liverpool FC. One relatively poor season (although 7th looks decent compared to what we are facing now) and people judge him on that, conveniently dismissing the good work done before that. Best manager in 20 years for us. True fans appreciate what he did and what he should still be doing.
Facebook group ‘we want Rafa back at LFC’. Join it today.
All Roy is saying is he hasn’t inherited a perfect squad to reach the expectations of the Liverpool supporters and that some of the players need moving around. Most fans agree that players such as Lucas or El Zhar are not ‘Liverpool’ quality. As fans we rightly hold our club in the highest order and feel only players who fit the bill should be in and around the club Roy echoes these sentiments and simply facts that the current squad is far from the invinsibles of Chelsea.
Rafa has it right, If Hodgson wants to call himself our manager he should get rid of his negative attitude, stop blaming Rafa for his own ineptitude and stick up for his players. It’s no wonder Torres feels down when his own manager didn’t defend him against Old Red Noses acerbic comments, but then that’s the job he really wanted saying that the Manure wouldn’t be stupid enough to even consider him.
I think Hodgson should leave his antisessor(BENITEZ) and face his work,because there’s still alot to do.YNWA FC 4LIFE.
Rafa was our most successful league manager since King Kenny on the basis of the average points he gained over the period, please please LEE try and tell me different. We did reach two Champions League finals in 2005 and 2007. Won the FA Cup in 2006, and were 2nd in 2009 with the highest Premier League total since its inception in 1993, ahead of Gerard houilliers 82 points in 2002.
WELL ???
The transcript above is incorrect maybe whoever did it should try again before making comments. I hate artistic licence in reporting.
Bearing in mind there is a video there I hardly think the transcript is incorrect. Jeez.
Since the reign of King Kenny, Rafa has been our most successful league manager gaining the highest average points total over his tenure than either of his three predecessors. Does no one remember looking enviously at Manure as they won the Champs league in 1999 and won countless leagur titles?! Rafa did restore our pride , two champions league finals , in 3 yrs FA Cup 2nd in the league record points total in the EPL it goes on… His transfer record was suspect at times, and no doubt he should have used Aquilani and Keane more, but every manager has their dud signings. Liverpool are now playing the worse football in living memory, and I am embarrassed. We have gone backwards, and truly now I appreciate Rafa, he had his faults , but he understood LFC , Roy Hodgson aint got a clue, and I fear he may be out of his depth.
Roy should concentrate on lifting the team spirits ……….why should he comment on Rafa reign………Rafa never commented on Gerard reins ……..and actually went on to win the CL with a poor side than Hodgson Has noW………Hallmarks of a Better manager who concentrates on the job and does not blame the past
Despite Rafa losing it last season, he always stood up for LFC and the Fans… he wouldn’t take any b**locks from Fergie and Allerdyce etc… He would have stood up for Torres when Fergie called him a cheat! Hodgson doesnt do that… and his press conferences are very negative!