Rafa Watch

[Arn]

Already signed up Mertens.

Great signing and will be a big success IMO.

[baitman]

Already signed up Mertens.

Great signing and will be a big success IMO.

yeh, he looks a good lad. maybe rafa will bring him along when he returns

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Can't help but think he'd have got us back to the top a lot quicker than the route we're on now, no disrespect to Rodgers but Rafa has been there and done it. There is no getting away from it, his performances started dropping off when the board were running us for their own profit and he stood up to them, with any sort of budget Rafa is proven success.

[-V-]

If he can keep hold of Cavani and Hamsik then i think he will do alrite. Wouldnt be surprised if he took Yossi over too

[Daniel 7]

Why? He fell out immensely with Yossi.

[Liverpel]

Rafa Benitez led Chelsea to Europa League glory last season
24 JUNE 2013

Rafael Benitez has made a thinly veiled criticism of Chelsea successor Jose Mourinho.


The Spaniard, who frequently crossed swords with the Portuguese while at Liverpool and during the self-titled 'Special One's' first spell at Stamford Bridge, seemed to suggest Mourinho lacked humility and crossed the line of what was acceptable in order to win.

Benitez told Spanish newspaper AS: "I don't know what Mourinho does. I know what I do: I always want to win, without crossing the line of sportsmanship. It's true that I get on better with some coaches than others and I align myself with those that don't value winning at any cost."

Benitez, who came through the ranks at Real Madrid and played for and later coached their reserve side, Castilla, said that growing up at the Spanish giants helped him understand the values of sportsmanship.

During Mourinho's three-year tenure at the club, which ended at the end of last season when he left the club to return to Chelsea, the Portuguese was attacked by sections of the media for not adhering to these values.

Benitez continued: "I joined Madrid's academy when I was 13 and learned everything there. I received a sporting education from Madrid and I was taught to show respect and dignity towards the opponents whether we won or lost."

Benitez's final months at Stamford Bridge took place to the background of growing rumours that Mourinho was set to replace him at Chelsea, but the former Liverpool boss explained how he focused on finishing his time at the Blues in style by winning the Europa League.

"Everyone at Chelsea knew that Mourinho was going to come back at the end of the season," he admitted. "But that didn't take away any of my ambition or willingness to achieve our objectives and we won the Europa League, which says a lot about the seamless commitment of that sensational team."

Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to succeed Mourinho at Real Madrid, and Benitez believes the former Chelsea and AC Milan boss, who he came face to face with in the Champions League finals of 2005 and 2007 with Liverpool, will be the perfect replacement for the Portuguese.

He said: "I know him well from Milan because of the finals in Athens and Istanbul and we had a very good relationship when we were both in the Premier League. I think it's the correct choice because he will a conciliator in the dressing room and inside the club. I think the club will appreciate that change."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/rafa-questions-joses-sportsmanship-29368943.html

[Lee]

Nicely said Rafa.

[Cormack74]

http://english.gazzetta.it/Football/21-06-2013/benitez-call-me-rafe-this-napoli-will-fear-no-one-20627243894.shtml

Call him Rafè. Rafa Benitez isn't interested in how he's referred to, as he said while he was being introduced at the press conference in Castelvolturno, as he broke the ice with jokes and smiles: “My first impressions are that it's rather hot here, because I've just arrived from England. I've heard great reports about Napoli. I've come to coach a strong side, who have been doing well so far and I plan to continue that. Napoli are different from Inter and if I have made this decision it's because there is a project here to keep improving. Ever since day one De Laurentiis has told me that there are no specific objectives, but we want to try and keep qualifying for the Champions League every year. We need not fear anyone because we have a city behind us.”

cavani — He already feels the city in his blood: “I'm not called Rafael any longer, my name's Rafé. I have come to know the city through the suggestions of the fans on my website. I actually received thirty thousand replies on my web page on the first day. Support from Neapolitans is different from run-of-the-mill support. Everybody talks football here and everybody looks forward to the games. If we play well everybody will fall in behind us, otherwise please be patient. Napoli are a good team today and we want to build a better team to be competitive on all fronts. Cavani? I've spoken to him and we are keeping in touch, but we haven't discussed his future yet because he's focussed on Uruguay at the moment. It's only logical that his name's on everyone's lips in England and in Spain, because he's a great player and we'll be pleased if he stays here. We hope to see him back here and if I have to talk to him again I'll be pleased to do so.

de sanctis is staying — Benitez didn't want to give anything away about players and formations. He confirmed that De Sanctis would be staying ("He'll be our keeper 100%) and he praised Hamsik: "He's a player who can make a difference and, like Dzemaili and Pandev, he can cover more than one position. What interests me is that everyone plays for the team, like Insigne did in the European Championships." He'll make up his mind in Dimaro. Meanwhile the first friendly has already been arranged: 20 July against Feralpi Salò.

staff — The technical staff to assist Benitez have already been announced: Pecchia will be his deputy, Paco De Miguel will be in charge of training along with Corrado Saccone, Xavi Valero will coach the keepers. Antonio Gomez will analyse the matches and Pedro Campos will be the observer.

[Le Chef]

With Shelvey gone I did a quick calc and based solely on the players that Rafa bought and have been sold, released etc during and after Rafa's reign he spent approx £16m. Included in that are the fees fro Johnson, Reina, Agger and Skrtel who are still with the club.

[Nick77]

With Shelvey gone I did a quick calc and based solely on the players that Rafa bought and have been sold, released etc during and after Rafa's reign he spent approx £16m. Included in that are the fees fro Johnson, Reina, Agger and Skrtel who are still with the club.

Can u imagine what he could've done with this summer's budget??

[Assassin]

no, as it is of no consequence

[Neil Young]

With Shelvey gone I did a quick calc and based solely on the players that Rafa bought and have been sold, released etc during and after Rafa's reign he spent approx £16m. Included in that are the fees fro Johnson, Reina, Agger and Skrtel who are still with the club.

I imagine there's been some price inflation since 2004 but even so that's surprising.

[The_weatherman]

Rafa's squad as it is, he has added Dries Mertens already I think, he could have a decent really, Juventus will probably take the league but Napoli will be thereabouts IMO. If Cavani goes he'll have funds to replace him with two or three players as well.

GK
Morgan De Sanctis
Antonio Rosati
Diamante Crispino
Roberto Colombo

Outfield
Marek Hamsik
Edinson Cavani
Paolo Cannavaro
Valon Behrami
Christian Maggio
Juan Zuñiga
Hugo Armando Campagnaro
Goran Pandev
Gökhan Inler
Alessandro Gamberini
Miguel Britos
Blerim Dzemaili
Lorenzo Insigne
Giandomenico Mesto
Pablo Armero
Rolando
Andrea Dossena
Salvatore Aronica
Gianluca Grava
Emanuele Calaiò
Federico Fernandez
Marco Donadel
Omar El Kaddouri
Bruno Uvini
Davide Bariti
Eduardo Vargas
Josip Radosevic
Roberto Insigne
Dries Mertens

[Sarb]

Reunited with Drossena

[Tee]

Reunited with Drossena

They deserve each other.