Article: Just forget the absurd idea of sacking Rafa Benitez

Just forget the absurd idea of sacking Rafa Benitez

Nov 29 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

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THE Kop spoke loudly and eloquently. Rafa Benitez was more understated, but just as sincere in his post-match response.

Now it’s time we had one last statement from Liverpool’s owners, to put a line under this very un-Liverpool like week.

Sports journalists are often accused of watching a totally different game to the one in front of them.

So I must be guilty as charged.

Because while I’ve had my eyes wide open over the past eight days, I’m afraid I still appear to have missed something.

Rafael Benitez on the brink of the sack? The whole notion is absurd, especially at a football club as solid, as traditional, as eminently sensible as Liverpool.

And the 40,000 supporters who have signed an online petition supporting their manager, the fans who delivered an emotional and clear message of support at Anfield last night, and those who staged a protest march from the Sandon Hotel before the match, also seem to find the situation equally odd.

It’s not difficult to see why.

Liverpool have a manager who has guided them to two Champions League finals in three seasons, winning one of them; he has also claimed an FA Cup, seen his team run out in a Carling Cup final, lifted a Super Cup and is still unbeaten in this season’s Premier League.

He has also given his side a fighting chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League with last night’s defeat of Porto, a win which had as much to do with the changes elicited from the dug-out as it did Fernando Torres’ brilliance.

Rafa Benitez won’t win the Premier League this season, but he could close the gap to a margin not seen since Gerard Houllier got within seven points of the Gunners in 2002.

And that’s just on the pitch. Off it Benitez has developed a remarkable bond with supporters.

That bond is based on results.

Benitez is an engaging, affable individual – but a lack of fluency in English makes it difficult for him to convey that charm.

He is not a demonstrative touchline boss either.

While Jose Mourinho will play to the gallery with manic celebrations and rebukes to away fans, Benitez will “work on solutions to why my team is not controlling the middle of the park” – like he did last night.

That bond has grown because Liverpool fans trust him with their football club.

He may take liberties, like leaving Torres out of home games, signing players like Josemi and Pellegrino, and treating the FA Cup with an almost dismissive contempt.

But he gets results.

And that’s something surely Tom Hicks and George Gillett cannot ignore.

Sure, Benitez spoke out of turn last week with his childish focus on coaching and training.

But it was a wholly understandable reaction.

Perhaps I’m old fashioned.

But I share the view of the greatest Liverpool manager of them all.

“At a football club, there’s a holy trinity – the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don’t come into it. They are only there to sign the cheques,” said Bill Shankly.

It’s not the job of directors, club owners, chief executives or any other officials to weigh up the pros and cons of potential signings.

That’s the job of the man with the football background – because he will rise or fall by those signings.

If those owners don’t trust their managers’ judgement, that’s a different story. Then it’s time to get rid. It’s as stark and as simple as that.

But if they believe their manager still has what it takes to bring their club success, they must back him as much as club coffers will allow.

This appears to be a struggle for influence at Liverpool Football Club.

And it reminds me of an uncomfortable situation I worked through a decade ago.

Claus Eftevaag never played a single match for Everton.

Yet his name is woven into the historical fabric of the club.

And I’m worried that he might have a modern incarnation in AC Milan defender Kakha Kaladze.

Joe Royle was blocked from signing the Norwegian journeyman by his chairman, Peter Johnson, and Everton lost the last manager to bring silverware to Goodison Park.

Ironically, Royle always believed that had Johnson’s right-hand man, Cliff Finch, not been out of the country that week he would have sat the warring parties down, talked some sense into them, and a crisis which damaged Everton Football Club would have been averted.

Liverpool have a man who can act as peacemaker in this current impasse.

Chief executive Rick Parry is close to the American owners and is in the ideal position to talk sense into all parties concerned.

Because losing Rafa Benitez now, in January, or even beyond, would not be beneficial to Liverpool Football Club.

The Kop delivered its message last night.

Rafa Benitez offered his response.

Now it’s time for the Americans to make their own statement of support – unless their minds have already been made up.


Quite refreshing to see a journalist talk a bit of sense for once. Maybe he's trying to make up for Tony Barrett's tabloid influenced articles lately. Fair enough, David Prentice is probably a blue nose but the title of the article is spot on. The idea of getting rid of Rafa is truly absurd.

Good article... thanks for posting that Kenny.

Now lets put this to bed once and for all and get on with what we do best.

Playing good football.

Lets concentrate on beating Bolton on Sunday and moving another step up the league.

For Sure