Liverpool under the management of Rafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is the manager of Liverpool Football Club. Rafa was a high-achiever in his first season with Liverpool in 2004 when he guided them to a victory in the UEFA Champions League, the highest honour in European club football. In the following three seasons he won the FA Cup, amongst other honours, and also reached the 2007 Champions League Final. However, he has remained unable to lead the team to win the Premier League; with Liverpool's best performance under Benítez management was a second place finish in 2008–09.
After winning the supreme continental prize, Liverpool’s fifth in all, the club fans and players were upbeat that they would be challenging for EPL titles in coming seasons but actually that title set the tone for Rafa’s managerial style for the next five seasons. He turned Liverpool into more of a cup team and has been publicly admitting to have given rest to key players in league games for the Champions League fixtures.
With this preference of his to do well in the Champions League, even if at the expense of EPL, Liverpool ended 2004-05 seasons on fifth position in the league table behind local rivals Everton with 58 only points.
Remarkably, they were closer to the relegated teams (25 points difference) in terms of points than the champions Chelsea (37 points difference). Luckily, UEFA granted Liverpool a place in next season’s qualifying round as rules were not there for the defending champions not getting a Champion League position in their domestic league (!).
In 2005-06 seasons, Liverpool finished third in EPL but won another cup (FA Cup this time) to camouflage the problems developing at the club. 2006-07 seasons started with Community Shield victory over Chelsea but they did not win a single away game in the league until December. Arsenal ended their defence of the FA Cup in 3rd round and the League Cup hopes four days later with a 6-3 victory at Anfield – Liverpool’s heaviest home defeat in 94 years. Rafa’s endeavours on the Champions League front, however, proved to be little more fruitful. After defeating Chelsea in the semi-finals on penalties, Liverpool encountered AC Milan next in repeat of the 2005 final but result was the opposite this time.
Liverpool finished fourth in 2007-08 season but second place in 2008-09 – their highest league finish in EPL era. This performance in the league persuaded the boardroom to agree a contract extension with Rafa till 2014 worth £20m - which is probably the only obstacle for the boardroom now to replace Rafa as the club is not in a position, financially, to pay him the compensation.
2009-10 season proved be a disaster for Liverpool. They could not progress through the Champions League stage and ended league on 7th position with only 63 points – their worst tally since 58 in Rafa’s first season at Liverpool (a progress of five points in five years?). In the process they could not qualify for next season’s Champions League, which is not only a big blow to the financial side of the side but also for the players like Steven Gerrard. The player did not leave for Chelsea in 2005, as he was hopeful to one day win English Premier League with his beloved club but things are getting worse at Liverpool. Probably a change in the managerial level can keep Gerrard at the club for life and reward him for his loyalty and devotion with a deserving league title.
After all said and done, Benitez’s still aims to remain at Liverpool and try to help the team improve with new owners. He is under contract and it is his wish to remain at Liverpool.
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