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If you opened the trophy cabinet at Casa Del Benitez you’d find an impressive collection of winners medals in both domestic and European competitions. His achievements in the Champions League, Uefa Cup and La Liga would surely take pride of place on the shelf but he’s also had to make room for his accomplishments in the Uefa Super Cup, the FA Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, the Supercoppa Italiana and last but not least the FA Community Shield. So why did Chelsea fans take to the stands against Birmingham on Tuesday night to voice their disapproval of this decorated Spaniard taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge?
If teams are only as good as their last game then the same can be said of their managers. It’s bewildering how quickly previous accomplishments are disregarded should the club hit a rough patch of form, perhaps this is the reason there are certain reservations against Benitez, with his prolonged exit from Liverpool and disastrous spell at Inter still fresh in the memories of the media.
Following the departure of Andre Villas-Boas speculation was rife in the tabloids with regards to the next doomed soul set to be targeted by Roman Abramovich. Unsurprisingly the standout candidates were Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola and a return for the ‘Special One’, but considering Chelsea have paid £64m and counting in compensation to clubs and managers over the past five years, perhaps Roman is seeking a cheaper alternative.
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Enter the currently unemployed Rafa Benitez, whose record of success in the Champions League and ability to get the best out of Fernando Torres has installed him as somewhat of a favourite for the role. The idea of appointing a manager simply to compliment a faltering superstar striker isn’t as ludicrous as you might think, especially when you consider the lengths Abramovich went to in order to facilitate Andriy Shevchenko’s time at the club.
Whatever your opinion of Benitez there’s no denying that he’s a very tactically astute manager with an impressive ability to motivate and inspire an otherwise distinctly average group of players. Besides that memorable night in Istanbul, Benitez has also masterminded a victory at the Nou Camp, a feat Mourinho is yet to achieve. Who among us still remembers those famous five days in March 2009 when Liverpool destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 at Anfield before beating United 4-1 at Old Trafford to reignite their title chase?
Off the pitch Benitez can also be credited with bringing ‘King Kenny’ back to Anfield, albeit it in an ambassadorial role, whilst it’s fair to say that Dalglish still has a lot of work to do in order to transform Liverpool back into the title contenders they were under Benitez.
Rafa’s botched transfer dealings perhaps unfairly overshadow his inspired purchases, which is another reason Chelsea fans have perhaps objected to his appointment, considering the mass clearout needed at the Bridge. It’s easy to forget Benitez was responsible for luring the likes of Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano to Merseyside when pundits and fans alike are more eager to talk about the failings of Robbie Keane, David N’Gog and fan of helicopter transportation, Ryan Babel.
With his distinguished back catalogue Benitez will always find himself in demand, just look at Sven-Göran Eriksson, he still manages to land jobs despite not having won a trophy for over a decade. Whilst declaring his interest in the vacant Chelsea post Benitez admitted that he has “had two or three offers from clubs and one from a national team,” but he insisted he wants “to win trophies; it’s not just a case of wanting a job and having some money. It has to be something.”
In my humble opinion I don’t believe Benitez is the right man to haul Chelsea out of their current slump. His time at Inter demonstrated a failure to inspire a team languishing in the wake of a Mourinho departure, which is arguably the same situation he would find himself in at Chelsea. In addition to this, the much-publicised breakdown with outspoken chairman Massimo Moratti serves only to suggest that he would be unable to work effectively under the watchful gaze of Roman Abramovich.
Benitez needs to be afforded a creative freedom by his chairman to order to work his magic, which is why Tottenham should look no further than the Spaniard should Redknapp stop dragging his feet and set sail for International waters.
Is Benitez due a return to the Premier League? Send me your Rafa ‘fachts’ on Twitter @theunusedsub
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