With Liverpool’s poor form in the first half of the season prompting some critics and media vultures to call for Rafa Benitez to resign as manager, ex Reds player Sami Hyypia has spoken out in support of his former boss.
Hyypia said: “Should Benitez quit as Liverpool manager? Absolutely not, he has done a great job there so why should he? He hasn’t had the money of Manchester United and Chelsea, but he has still been successful.
“Look how much Chelsea have spent to try and win the Champions League. Rafa won the Champions League in his first season in charge, then got to another final with nowhere near the budget of Chelsea.”
The former Reds captain is also confident Liverpool will finish the season in the top four and believes their experience will be the telling factor in seeing them finish ahead of their rivals.
“I am sure that Liverpool will finish in the top four,” he added.
“Manchester City and Spurs have put together great squads, but when the pressure is on in the last 10 games of the season, experience starts to show.
“Most of those Liverpool lads know what it is like to play under pressure, and that for me is why they will finish the season in the top four.
“Rafa is an excellent man-manager and during all my time at Liverpool everybody liked him and everybody respected him.
“Players don’t stick up for their gaffer if you are not a good man-manager.
“It would be easy for the players to blame the manager, but they are taking responsibility and sticking up for their boss – and that’s a rare thing now.”
So much for the myth of Rafa’s “poor man-management”. There have been times this season when we certainly could have done with having Hyypia around, but even though he is no longer at Anfield, Big Sami continues to show his class. The guy is one of the greats in my opinion and a definite legend.
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