Former reds backing Rafa

Didi: “Ridiculous” to slate Rafa for subbing an unfit player

Posted on November 2nd, 2009 by Jim Boardman

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has spoken out in defence of Rafael Benítez at a time when the manager is under fire from the media and a growing number of fans.

Hamman sent a message to the manager’s detractors: “People calling for Rafa’s head are being very premature. He has been there five years and has improved them every season. Rafa has got everything a top-class manager needs, he will turn it around.”

Didi says Liverpool have got better every year since Rafa arrived: “It’s almost the first time in his five-year period at Anfield where they’ve had a bad spell like this. Every year Rafa has gradually improved Liverpool, every year he has taken them forward.”

He pointed out that there is still a long way to go this season, even if Liverpool’s league hopes are now very slim: “There are still another 27 games left in the league and while I don’t think they can win it after the start they have made, there is plenty of time to get into that top four.”

Rafa had an injury and illness list that went into double figures as he tried to pick his team for Fulham, and some of those who took to the field were far from fully fit.

Didi has confidence in Rafa’s men: “The team is good enough to pull through. They were pretty unlucky at Fulham – they could have been ahead at half-time and both the sendings-off were harsh. Sometimes things just don’t go your way.”

Didi was already at the club when Rafa arrived and he won –and thoroughly deserved – a Champions League winners’ medal under the Spanish coach in 2005. He says that things will soon turn round for the club: “All they need are a couple of good results and a couple of key players to be fit again and once they’ve won once or twice everything will be fine again.”

Hamann also had some words for another former Reds midfielder, Ronnie Whelan. Whelan had made some comments on Irish TV suggesting Rafa had taken players like Torres off during the game because he wanted to save them for the Champions League, the only competition he wanted to win, and only because he thought it was good for his job prospects.

Ridiculous comments, and Hamann said so: “I don’t think you can blame the manager for taking Torres off when he’s clearly not 100% fit – maybe Torres asked to be taken off, who knows? It’s just ridiculous that people are coming out and saying these things when only the manager knows how fit people are, only he is in charge of that team. I don’t think that’s up to anyone else to judge.”

Even so, Hamann says the midweek Champions League game was huge for the club: “I think this game in Lyon on Wednesday is more important than any of the league games they have played recently. Financially for Liverpool it is vital for them to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, so at this moment in time you can see why Rafa would prioritise Wednesday’s game more than Fulham away.”

And Didi also pointed something out that the lynch mob rarely mention – other teams have been dropping points too: “There is so much time left in the league – and you saw with Manchester City drawing on Sunday that teams aren’t exactly capitalising when Liverpool don’t win.

“The big four all lost at least twice in their first 10 games so it seems more competitive at the top and this will work in Liverpool’s favour, because you won’t need quite as many points as in previous years to get into that top four.”

Liverpool have yet to field their strongest side this season, and when they do it will make a big change. And other sides might find their squads are weakened too: “With Alberto Aquilani getting fit, Steven Gerrard on his way back and the fact that they won’t lose any players to the African Cup of Nations in January, I think we’ll see Liverpool improving from now on.”

http://www.anfieldroad.com/news/200911023409/didi-ridiculous-to-slate-rafa-for-subbing-an-unfit-player.html/?

A good one from Didi Harmann!

All the people with some sense in their head are standing up and being counted.

Well said Didi.

Spot on Ham.

These are the sort of ex-players we should be listening to.....not the likes of traitor Ronnie Whelan.

Positive words, thankyou Dietmar, it's what we need right now.

Didi spent 7 years at Anfield he won 1 European cup 2 Fa cups, 2 league cups, 1 UEFA cup, 2 super cups and a charity shield. Not as much as other but in those 7 years he learned what it is to be a Liverpool player didn't he. Some people who spent longer at the club could learn a thing from Didi in how to stand by the club that made you who you are

Don't you just love it when a top player like Dietmar backs our under fire boss !never pulled his punches on the pitch and he's still doing it now ...top bloke ! as for the older ex-players who are having a go ...this is how it should be done the Dietmar way .

Top man Didi.

Well in.

Well in Didi.  Respect fella.  Unlike some other ex Reds.

An awful lot of respect for Didi  both as a player and a loyal servant of this club, Didi has worked under Rafa and has seen first hand how he operates, giving Hamman a greater knowledge and more thoughtful insight than some of our older legends. The kind of legend that forgets about the club that made them, the kind that kick the club when its down, the kind that taints his Legend status by disrespecting 96 souls that lost lives to give their support to that said player by selling their opinion to that red top rag we don't speak of. Step forward Ronnie Whelan and take a leaf out of Didi Hammans book a legend with class something you'll never possess in light of recent events.

Well In Dietmar Hamman True Legend YNWA

These are the sort of ex-players we should be listening to.....not the likes of traitor Ronnie Whelan.

Positive words, thankyou Dietmar, it's what we need right now.

Couldn't agree more.

Excellent article.. Didi knows what he's talking about, hope he ends up coaching here soon.

Agree or disagree, but what a man, and what a loyal servent to LFC, even now.

F**k off Whelan, start taking lessons from Dietmar.

I hope Welan read what Didi had to say, Welan spoke lies about the manager and for someone who has seen it, has the badge and has been there, he surely knows their are times a manager takes of injured players to protect them from further injury. I honestly believe he has another agenda, what it is, who knows, only Welan does. Well done Didi.

look at the big picture his percentage of wins. all managers go through bad spots. now he has a possible 12 players could be sick. please stand behind rafa he needs oour support not our criticisms. united we stand divided we fall

Good one. I stand behind you Rafa. Statements like these really do help lighten things up in dark times.

'Didi Hammers Whele-Bin Ronnie'

Sorry, thought I'd take a stab @ an Echo back page headline...I'll get m'coat...

thanx didi

Note to Ronnie Whelan.

The Did Hamann Approach is a much better route into the Liverpool manager's chair.

Is right Didi lad. We need people to stand in support of the club during bad times. YNWA mate.

These are the sort of ex-players we should be listening to.....not the likes of traitor Ronnie Whelan.

Positive words, thankyou Dietmar, it's what we need right now.

Is that the same Ronnie Whelan who has managed "massive" clubs like Southend United, Panionios, Apollon Limassol and Olympiakos Nicosia. His greatest success as a manager, was with Panionios in 1999, when his team reached the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup and were beaten 7-0 on aggregate by Lazio. He now works on the after-dinner circuit and does a spot of punditry.

If he was that good and knew what was best for the football clubs, why has he not got a management job anymore?  

Didi Hamann is spot on and I saw an interview with David Fairclough last night that said sacking Rafa would set us back longer than the 5 years he has already been here!!

Nobody out there could do a better job than Rafa in the circumstances! IRWT!!

Good words from a former Liverpool player.

Well in, Didi.

Still showing the same class you had on the park Didi. Well in lad.

Expected better from the likes of Whelan.

Is right Didi lad,

Thats the kind of stuff we need ex-reds saying, not like Whelan and his glory filled managers cabinet