Lets assume for a moment that Rafa never joined Liverpool in 2004. Lets say he joined a different Club. A Club without insane and ridiculously high levels of expectation amongst its supporters. A club that couldn't compete financially with the big hitters of the league. A Club with a stagnating squad that just pipped Newcastle by 3 points to get the last Champions League spot.
Lets say in his first season, he brought them to a European Cup final, and won them the f**ker, as well as the Super cup. Lets say in his 2nd season he bought one of the best goalkeepers in the world (one that would land 3 golden gloves in his first 3 seasons in England) and brought the Club to an FA Cup final, and won them that too. As well as getting the highest tally of league points for donkeys years
Lets say in his 3rd season, as he is slowly but surely improving the squad in accordance to the money being granted to him, he manages the Club to another European cup final. The 2nd one in 3 years. Some Clubs supporters would give their left bollock to even make it to a semi, but Rafa decides to spoil them and give them another chance of playing on Europes grandest stage
So then he begins his 4th season by signing the worlds most elite striker in the making, and tosses him in with the future captain of Argentina that he picked up in January. On he goes but then starts to get shafted by his employers who break promises that were made to him. They treat him like sh*t, but Rafa decides to stay loyal to the club with whom he has a vision. He takes them to yet another European Cup semi final, as the fans cream themselves over yet another venture in club footballs premier Cup competition
Then along comes the 5th season and he racks up 86 points which takes them to within a whisker of a League title. He also takes the team to another Champions league quarter final. At this stage, the lowly stagnating team that he inherited, are now Europes most consistent side in the continents premier competition. Their win coefficient sits proudly on top of the list, above the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Chelsea, Arsenal, all of whom were put to the sword over the last few years.
Lets say he then set about revamping the club academy. He decides to go after the guys who have the best CV's when it comes to working with youth. Guys who helped to hone the Inesta's, and Xavi's, and Messi's of this world. Thats right, none other than La Cantera's very own Rodolfo Borrell and Jose Segura.
I could go on, but I'm sure you all get the gist by now. If Rafa achieved all that with any other club besides Liverpool, he would be deemed a footballing messiah by the masses. We would probably be looking on with envy thinking "F**k me, thats that ex Valencia guy who schooled us at Anfield 7 years ago, how the F**k did he get that lot to 2 champions league finals? I'd give my left bollock to have him as Liverpool Manager"
The problem for Rafa is he actually achieved all of that with a club who aren't particularly liked by the press and media, and who's history means that its fans demand success that is way beyond the clubs current means. These are the 2 primary reasons why the man hasn't even received one tenth of the credit that he really deserves. If Liverpool FC wasn't the name over the door, then he would be easily lauded as one of the best managers in the game, with the ability to get results, and compete with teams who have superior spending power.
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