Source: Liverpool_Echo
Blood Red: Mistakes were made but Rafa Benitez had a genuine feel for Liverpool FC
Mistakes were made but Rafa had a genuine feel for the club[LNB]WHEN news of Rafa Benitez's departure was finally confirmed on Thursday afternoon, the feeling was one of overriding sadness.[LNB]Regardless of what you made of his signings or his tactics, there is no escaping the fact that Benitez is a good man.[LNB]A manager who took the traditions and history of Liverpool Football Club to his heart, created a strong bond with those who sit in the stands and fought tooth and nail to realise supporters' dreams.[LNB]Of course the number of dissenting voices increased greatly during a wretched season when Benitez undoubtedly made mistakes.[LNB] Maybe the manager was so busy fighting battles in the boardroom, he took his eye off the ball.[LNB]The sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid last summer has been used as a stick to beat him with but in reality it was Alonso who demanded a transfer.[LNB]Yes, Benitez triggered that desire by plotting to sell Alonso a year earlier but that was after the midfielder had failed to shine in 2007/08.[LNB]What there is no escape from is the glaring error he made in buying Alberto Aquilani. It was a nonsensical decision spending £20million on an injured, lightweight midfielder who didn't make his first team bow until late October.[LNB]Aquilani spent most of the season warming the bench with Benitez admitting a whole host of games were just too physical for him.
