I'm surprised at how many don't have total regard for Rafa. Some even not rating him. I think he was as decent a manager wed had for some years, and a step up on Gerrard Houlier, even though it was his team inherited that won No 5 in Istanbul. At 3 .0 down, bringing Didi on at half time, wasn't a so much a brilliant tactical move, more a case of damage limitation. To hold the fort so to speak. I think it was the players on the field started to believe once Stevies header went in, and together they turned it around. After our 3 rd, we were pretty much battered till the end, and stayed in the game with heroic performances by everyone, but mostly of a defensive nature. And of course Jersey Dudek.
Thats not managerial brilliance, thats players with balls of steel.
Still rated Rafa later on, but can never understand why he wanted to sell Alsonso to Arsenal.
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