Sarah Winterburn: If there was one manager...

If There Was One Manager...
Sarah Winterburn, F365, 19th Feb 2008

If Arsene Wenger had to win the Champions League to keep his job, would you back him? Probably not. Would you back Sir Alex Ferguson? Possibly not. But if one manager can be even remotely confident about working his way out of such a ridiculous corner, it is Rafa Benitez.

All but the most vociferous supporter of Benitez would struggle to argue that the Spaniard has not made mistakes in the Premier League this season. We have not been backward about coming forward in pointing out those mistakes...defensive formations, resting key players, curious substitutions - he has run the gamut of tactical errors.

But in Europe he is at home. In Europe, he is king rather than court jester. Forget the fact that Inter Milan were reduced to ten men - this is an Inter Milan side who are unbeaten in Serie A this season and would fancy themselves to defend for 90 minutes in any circumstances against any team in the world. What was required was patience, and Benitez has that in abundance.

Against Wigan, starting with a 4-5-1 formation would be a mistake. Against Birmingham, not bring Peter Crouch on until the 65th minute would be a mistake. Against Barnsley, taking off Ryan Babel was a mistake. Against a highly-experienced but tiring Inter side they were exactly the right tactics.

Just when you're screaming at the TV in wonder that Dirk Kuyt is still on the pitch, his dogged determination is rewarded with the opening goal. Maybe the Dutchman is not dynamic enough for the Premier League, but maybe his 'golden retriever' schtick is exactly what is required in Europe. Who knows? Maybe Rafa.

There is a misconception amongst some Liverpool fans that Football365 is anti-Liverpool or at least anti-Rafa. Nonsense. What we are is frustrated. We wanted Liverpool to challenge ManYoo and Chelsea in the Premier League this season. Instead, they have gone backwards and a large slice of the blame for that failure has to be laid at the feet of a manager who is too tactical for the competition. Just like most Liverpool fans, we want to see their attacking players given license to give inferior opposition a bloody good shooing.

There is no such thing as being over-tactical in Europe and this is where Rafa excels. He is master of the 180-minute chess game. Now if Liverpool could just bring in someone else to manage in the Premier League...

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_3170103,00.html

If only F365 could have brought in another 'journalist' to write that story.