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 clubWHEN news of Rafa Benitez's departure was finally confirmed on Thursday afternoon, the feeling was one of overriding sadness.Regardless of what you made of his signings or his tactics, there is no escaping the fact that Benitez is a good man.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.Of course the number of dissenting voices increased greatly during a wretched season when Benitez undoubtedly made mistakes. Maybe the manager was so busy fighting battles in the boardroom, he took his eye off the ball.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.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.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.Aquilani spent most of the season warming the bench with Benitez admitting a whole host of games were just too physical for him.

Source: Liverpool_Echo