Rafa Watch

[Phoenix07]

Rafa Benitez has confirmed in today's Napoli press conference that he is leaving at the end of the season. Breaking now.

[Mello]

He was sacked because we went from finishing 2nd to finishing 7th. Rumour was he'd lost the changing room.

I agree we got rid of him too soon But, it's time to move on. This Liverpool set-up is nothing like the one he inherited in 2004.

Yeah, it has much more potential. And considering all the problems created by the ownership that season the drop to 7th was understandable.

[Chazza]

Napoli have called an unexpected press conference for Thursday as reports linking Rafael Benítez with Real Madrid continue to gain strength.

The Serie A club close out their season with a home game against Lazio on Sunday but the Spaniard looks set to announce his departure for the Bernabéu three days earlier.

Earlier on Tuesday, the former Liverpool manager was described as being “99%” certain to be the next Real coach.

After weeks of speculation about his future, Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Real on Monday. The club president, Florentino Pérez, announced the time had come for a “change of direction”.

Ancelotti’s representative Ernesto Bronzetti expects the 55-year-old Benítez, who started his managerial career with Real’s reserve side, to become the club’s 13th coach since 2003. Bronzetti said: “Benítez is 99% sure to go to Real.”

Ancelotti’s departure had been anticipated since Real were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage by Juventus.

The former Chelsea and Paris St-Germain manager won the Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first season in charge at the Bernabéu and also helped Real lift the Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2014.

Real could not add any more trophies this season as they finished second to Barcelona in La Liga as well as being knocked out of Europe and the Copa del Rey.

Before his dismissal, Ancelotti said he was going to have a back operation and would take a year-long sabbatical if Real decided to part company with him.

Bronzetti reiterated that on Monday, saying: “As of right now, Ancelotti wants to take a year’s break. That’s his intention. At Real Madrid you can be sacked if you don’t win any trophies in a season.”

Aside from Benitez, the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Michel and Unai Emery have been linked with the Real post.

The Madrid-born manager has spoken of his wish to manage Real, calling the club his “sweetheart” while he was in interim charge of Chelsea in 2013.

Perez said in a press conference on Monday night to announce Ancelotti’s departure: “Next week, we will know the name of the new manager of Real Madrid. With our great team, talent and hard work, we will be able to give satisfaction and happiness to our fans and our members.

“I want to publicly say thank you to Carlo Ancelotti for these two years, for his hard work and all his affection, and tell him this is still his house and his home.

“It was a very difficult decision to make; the demands at this club are the utmost because Madrid always wants to win silverware. The affection that the players and the fans have for Carlo is the same as the affection I myself have for him.

“What did Ancelotti do wrong? I don’t know. The demands here at Real Madrid are very high.”

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/26/napoli-rafael-benitez-press-conference-real-madrid?CMP=share_btn_tw

[Rigadon]

He's managed (or soon to) Inter, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid since he left us.....in that time we've employed The Bodge, King Kenny and Rodgers...but according to some he's not good enough for us.

I'd have him back at Anfied in a heartbeat

He was sacked because we went from finishing 2nd to finishing 7th. Rumour was he'd lost the changing room.

I agree we got rid of him too soon But, it's time to move on. This Liverpool set-up is nothing like the one he inherited in 2004.

[Alex]

Isnt it strange how Warnock got the Palace job despite being out of football for 2 years.

[Vermilion]

Neil Warnock FUMING about Rafa getting the Real job

"It's not what you know it's who you know"

Bloke rivals Maureen for biggest hypocritical pig of a man in football.

[DeanoUK]

Yeah me too.

And Warnock - it's funny, but completely f*cking deluded at the same time.

[spud_gun]

He's managed (or soon to) Inter, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid since he left us.....in that time we've employed The Bodge, King Kenny and Rodgers...but according to some he's not good enough for us.

I'd have him back at Anfied in a heartbeat

[Rich]

Neil Warnock FUMING about Rafa getting the Real job

"It's not what you know it's who you know"

and with Allardyce available as well.

No excuses for Real !

[Fivex]

Warnock

[McDermotX]

Neil Warnock FUMING about Rafa getting the Real job

"It's not what you know it's who you know"

and with Allardyce available as well.

No excuses for Real !

[Shaggy]

Neil Warnock FUMING about Rafa getting the Real job

"It's not what you know it's who you know"

[Darkon]

I think Messi, Suarez and Neymar is the best forward line in the history of football, so Rafa will be up against it. Whoever goes in there is gonna fail IMO.

Also, Real Madrid despite being the richest club in the world are ****. Look at their recent record:

1 league title in 7 years
3 league titles in 18 years

In what's basically a two team league, that is amazing.

That's what you get for having no continuity at a club (*cough* look in the mirror *cough*)

But to be fair they also won 4 CL titles in roughly that period of time

[BigChief]

Rafa will bring Real's goals conceded column right down. In the process he'll bring Ronaldo's goals scored down by about 20%.

I also think Real will win the CL for the 11th time next season.

[Buzzo]

I think Messi, Suarez and Neymar is the best forward line in the history of football, so Rafa will be up against it. Whoever goes in there is gonna fail IMO.

Also, Real Madrid despite being the richest club in the world are ****. Look at their recent record:

1 league title in 7 years
3 league titles in 18 years

In what's basically a two team league, that is amazing.

It's getting like the SPL, a one team league