Former Red backs under pressure Rafa

By Max Munton On · 40 Comments · In LFC News

Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann says Rafa Benitez is the right man to take the Reds to Premier League glory, downplaying media hype that the Spaniard is set to be sacked by the club.

The Reds have undergone a tough run of form with five league defeats already this season and Champions League campaign hanging by a threat.

But Hamann, who was part of Benitez’s side that won the European Cup in 2005, says Rafa is the only man to turn fortunes around at Anfield.

“People calling for Rafa’s head are being very premature,” he told BBC Sport. “He has been there five years and has improved them every season.

“Rafa has got everything a top-class manager needs, he will turn it around.”

“There are still another 27 games left in the league and while I don’t think they can win it after the start they have made, there is plenty of time to get into that top four.

“The team is good enough to pull through. They were pretty unlucky at Fulham – they could have been ahead at half-time and both the sendings off were harsh, sometimes things just don’t go your way.

“But all they need are a couple of good results and a couple of key players to be fit again and once they’ve won once or twice everything will be fine again.”

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  • Vishnu

    In rafa v trust but there s one limit for our support rafa must turn things around soon as possible

  • Vishnu

    In rafa v trust but there s one limit for our support rafa must turn things around soon as possible

  • Odin telamon

    It’s sad to see so many ex players standing by Jaffa the guy is clueless about his team selections his zonal marking tactics are making the great carra seem average like the majority of his signings and I hope Jaffa goes soon so someone with real passion can motivate the lads and also turn anfield back into fortress anfield and a the sandcastle it’s become

  • Odin telamon

    It’s sad to see so many ex players standing by Jaffa the guy is clueless about his team selections his zonal marking tactics are making the great carra seem average like the majority of his signings and I hope Jaffa goes soon so someone with real passion can motivate the lads and also turn anfield back into fortress anfield and a the sandcastle it’s become

  • Bill

    Odin telamon

    If you want to blame someone then blame the national managers. Gerard, Torres, Johnson and others all injured playing for their respective countries how many had a summer break? only the dross that didn’t play, Even old red nose is struggling for fit players but he’s lucky in that he can field fourteen players even though three are supposed to be neutral. plus the other top teams have more strength in depth and have not had to sell to buy, unlike Raffa. somebody please do a Kennedy on the yanks.

  • Bill

    Odin telamon

    If you want to blame someone then blame the national managers. Gerard, Torres, Johnson and others all injured playing for their respective countries how many had a summer break? only the dross that didn’t play, Even old red nose is struggling for fit players but he’s lucky in that he can field fourteen players even though three are supposed to be neutral. plus the other top teams have more strength in depth and have not had to sell to buy, unlike Raffa. somebody please do a Kennedy on the yanks.

  • Odin telamon

    Bill I completely agree about the internationals especially pointless friendlies cos for some reason torres always seems to get injured but there is nothing we can apparently do and as for the devil incarnate as old red nose he has been fortunate in the fact that the youth policy has been a lot better than ours despite our cup triumphs of the last few years

  • Odin telamon

    Bill I completely agree about the internationals especially pointless friendlies cos for some reason torres always seems to get injured but there is nothing we can apparently do and as for the devil incarnate as old red nose he has been fortunate in the fact that the youth policy has been a lot better than ours despite our cup triumphs of the last few years

  • inthedoghouse

    Agree with Bill about the internationals leaving our players injured, it’s not the first time it’s happened either. This is where we need a squad with depth to cover these eventualities, and we’ll only get that if the yanks put their hands in their pockets. One bonus the horizon, is that the youth and reserve squad are a damn sight better than they were before. I.e. Ngog, Spearing, Kelly, Ayala, all look like half decent players in the making.

  • inthedoghouse

    Agree with Bill about the internationals leaving our players injured, it’s not the first time it’s happened either. This is where we need a squad with depth to cover these eventualities, and we’ll only get that if the yanks put their hands in their pockets. One bonus the horizon, is that the youth and reserve squad are a damn sight better than they were before. I.e. Ngog, Spearing, Kelly, Ayala, all look like half decent players in the making.

  • red4ever

    Looks like Rafa was right about resting Torres. It’s also good news that Ngog will be available and GREAT news that Reina wants to sign a new contact. After all the doom and gloom after the Fulham game I needed something some good news.

  • red4ever

    Looks like Rafa was right about resting Torres. It’s also good news that Ngog will be available and GREAT news that Reina wants to sign a new contact. After all the doom and gloom after the Fulham game I needed something some good news.

  • kevin

    I am not happy about the direction of the club, our performances, or the news. I am going to cut off the media and just watch the football for the rest of the season and just be a supporter. I don’t think rafa can take us to the next level, but there are also other problems. This season is depressing as hell, but supporting the lads through those 90 minutes, good or bad is what being a supporter is all about. YNWA

  • kevin

    I am not happy about the direction of the club, our performances, or the news. I am going to cut off the media and just watch the football for the rest of the season and just be a supporter. I don’t think rafa can take us to the next level, but there are also other problems. This season is depressing as hell, but supporting the lads through those 90 minutes, good or bad is what being a supporter is all about. YNWA

  • Rome 77

    Odin telamon Do some research on zonal marking before you come here spouting
    some bullsh*t you heard in the media.
    While your at it try and research some FACTS about his signing’s and read a few
    article’s on this site it may explain these clueless team selections as you put it.
    And finally the managers name is Rafa, but if you have your way it’ll be something
    like Gareth Southgate or maybe Alan Pardew

  • Rome 77

    Odin telamon Do some research on zonal marking before you come here spouting
    some bullsh*t you heard in the media.
    While your at it try and research some FACTS about his signing’s and read a few
    article’s on this site it may explain these clueless team selections as you put it.
    And finally the managers name is Rafa, but if you have your way it’ll be something
    like Gareth Southgate or maybe Alan Pardew

  • Nikhil Michael

    kevin, you are absolutely right, i agree with you , but here is the thing, the game we cannot afford to lose is the game against lyon and the next epl match, another thing is why make a new stadium? anfield is a wonderful ground that has packed so much heart over the years it has been my dream to watch a footy match in merseyside anfield, instead of the new staidum that money could go towards bringing big name players

  • Nikhil Michael

    kevin, you are absolutely right, i agree with you , but here is the thing, the game we cannot afford to lose is the game against lyon and the next epl match, another thing is why make a new stadium? anfield is a wonderful ground that has packed so much heart over the years it has been my dream to watch a footy match in merseyside anfield, instead of the new staidum that money could go towards bringing big name players

  • Odin telamon

    So you would prefer zonal marking compared to the more effective man marking system when you have a manager who is using zonal marking and you win something at the end of the season then yes that may justify the tactic but something I don’t need the bullshit media to tell me is that by the end of october we have played eleven and lost five we are hanging by a thread in the champions league, also what media bullshit am I getting carried away with I would love to ride the crest of the wave about new billionare owners but the that is just the medias way of selling papers also didn’t Jaffa sign voronin,Lucas babel etc and as for his team selection it doesn’t really counter the fact that this is a shit season for us and also you tell me not to bother with the media but then tell me to check the facts in here? What you saying that no projaffarite would consider making the article make him look like the victim,that right only Jaffa would spend £20million on an injured player whilst antagonizing most loyal fans by forcing xavi into the arms of Madrid, you can choose to defend Jaffa I will choose to criticise and also I would love to see dalglish in charge

  • Odin telamon

    So you would prefer zonal marking compared to the more effective man marking system when you have a manager who is using zonal marking and you win something at the end of the season then yes that may justify the tactic but something I don’t need the bullshit media to tell me is that by the end of october we have played eleven and lost five we are hanging by a thread in the champions league, also what media bullshit am I getting carried away with I would love to ride the crest of the wave about new billionare owners but the that is just the medias way of selling papers also didn’t Jaffa sign voronin,Lucas babel etc and as for his team selection it doesn’t really counter the fact that this is a shit season for us and also you tell me not to bother with the media but then tell me to check the facts in here? What you saying that no projaffarite would consider making the article make him look like the victim,that right only Jaffa would spend £20million on an injured player whilst antagonizing most loyal fans by forcing xavi into the arms of Madrid, you can choose to defend Jaffa I will choose to criticise and also I would love to see dalglish in charge

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