Benitez was a control freak who didn’t trust his players – Bellamy

Former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy has described old Reds boss Rafa Benitez as “a total control-freak” who “didn’t trust the players”.

Bellamy left Liverpool to return to Cardiff City last summer after the departure of Kenny Dalglish.

In an extract from his new autobiography, Goodfella, the fiery Welshman explained how he found life under Benitez difficult – struggling with the “business like” nature around the training ground, the lack of imagination in training and how Rafa didn’t trust his players.

“There was not much enjoyment. There were no small-sided games or anything like that.

“It was a bit like Groundhog Day. You came in and did the same stuff over and over again.”

Bellamy did though praise Benitez’s tactical and “exceptional” defensive work, saying that he “learned quite a bit” from the Spaniard.

The Welshman was signed by Benitez in 2006 and later re-joined the club under Kenny Dalglish in 2011. He was full of praise for the Scotsman; “he is the greatest man who has ever played for Liverpool Football Club.”

In other extracts released last week Bellamy discussed the infamous golf club incident with John Arne Riise. It certainly seems like being an interesting and honest read.