TWELVE years have passed since Rafael Benitez first introduced himself to Anfield. And what an introduction this was.
The Spaniard arrived on Merseyside for a Champions League clash with his Valencia team on this very date back in 2002. The then reigning champions of Spain had already taught Liverpool a multitude of lessons in their Mestalla stadium the previous month during a comprehensive 2-0 victory.
David Albelda, Ruben Baraja and Pablo Aimar had torn Gerard Houllier’s men to shreds with their intricate football and showed everyone precisely why they were known as ‘the crushing machine’ as they pressed Liverpool relentlessly throughout the game.
Despite that chastening experience in Spain, expectations on Merseyside remained high for the return match. This was to be an Anfield European night, after all. Ultimately, it counted for little.
Benitez’s team remained a class above the Reds. A deflected goal from winger Rufete after 34 minutes made the difference in the scoreline but in truth the gulf in class on the pitch was far more pronounced than the 0-1 result implies. Jerzy Dudek made several impressive saves in the Liverpool goal and also saw his crossbar struck before Valencia took the lead.
As expected, the Reds rallied but Santiago Canizares was hardly over worked and dealt comfortably with tame efforts from Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. Believe it or not, Salif Diao was Liverpool’s stand-out performer during this contest, which should illustrate just how the game went for those who can’t recall it. Even the late introduction of Bruno Cheyrou made little difference.
Following this defeat, Liverpool’s European campaign went from bad to worse. A draw with Basel on match day six saw them eliminated from the Champions League and enter the UEFA Cup, which they would exit at the quarter final stage after a depressing 2-0 home defeat against Martin O’Neill’s Celtic.
Valencia, meanwhile, would win the group and progress to the second group stage (remember that?) where they again finished top ahead of Arsenal, Ajax and Roma.
Inter Milan knocked them out in the next round to deny Rafael Benitez his chance at a Champions League quarter final. He would lead Valencia to the UEFA Cup the following season before returning to Anfield permanently as Liverpool manager where both he and the Reds would get another crack at the Champions League in the 2004/05 season.
Plenty more Anfield victories in Europe would follow.
Great manager, great bloke, true red.
I got into Spanish football in a big way circa 97 after visiting family in Barcelona. Fell in love with the city and the team and still support them to this day. 2nd to Liverpool of course. I remember this Valencia team well.
Don’t remember much about the return game but by fuck I remember the pasting we got in Valencia. They played like an early version of tiki taka. They passed us into oblivion. It was the first time I watched a match and thought it looked like it could be a playstation game of Fifa.
Even though I knew we were pretty average I was sure they’d win the competition that year. Reached the final 2 years on trot before 2002 under Hector Cuper, spent a year out after finishing 5th in same season as their second final. Cuper went to Inter and was replaced by Rafa. He made them better from the get go, even after losing by far the club’s best player in Mendieta. He left for Lazio for £34m. Not much of it got spent. Rafa’s Valencia were less attacking but what a defence. Canizares, Ayala, future Liverpool player Pellegrino, Marchena. All protected by Baraja and Albelda.
(What’s interesting is that at the exact same time, 2001/02, both Benitez and Mourinho more or less came up with the tactic of working incredibly hard off the ball in order to win it back, then resting for 5-10 minutes when they had the ball. Two innovators, two winners)
5th to champions by 7 points in his 1st year, the season this article focuses on. This is after Barcelona spending £45m on Saviola, Giovanni, Rochemback & Christanval, and after Real Madrid had bought Figo for £38m and Zidane for £46m that summer. The original Ronaldo would join in 2002 for £32m. The last named 3 led Madrid in taking the title off Valencia in 02/03. Rafa asked for some money to be spent on players. Any money, any players. But it wasn’t forthcoming. But then came Rafa’s second greatest achievement (after the 05 Champions League, obviously).
In 2003, Barcelona bought Ronaldinho, Quarema, Rustu, Rafa Marquez and Edgar Davids for £40m. At the same time Real Madrid had Beckham join the Galacticos in 2003 for £25m. Valencia, as usual, done next to nothing in terms of transfers. They won the league and UEFA Cup. Through sheer tactical wizardry and coaching, Benitez won another league title. He did it with average players up front like John Carew, Mista and Angulo.
Again, he asked for money to be spent on recruits. He asked for a sofa. They give him a lamp. He resigned.
When first linked to us I said no chance. Thought he was sure to be a Real Madrid manager giving his connections to the blancos. But he came. He saw. He won the champions league with Djimi fucking Traore. More than that I think he became one of us.
His reputation has been damaged by his stint at Inter. This is incredibly unfair. Yes, they won the treble the year before. But when Mourinho goes to a club he takes out every ounce of effort and desire from the squad. A great strength. But when he leaves players are often drained – teams go into a lull. It happened at Porto, at Chelsea & at Inter, where Rafa also had an aging squad to contend with. Madrid were fine due to their financial mite and the fact Ancelotti, probably the 2nd best manager in the world, came in.
I still hope for Rafa’s return one day. I doubt it will happen. What could have been.
QFT, lad.
We were pretty average then but at least we had a great kit!!
Rafa the Spanish shankly. .first 3 seasons 2 champions league 1 fa cup 1 league cup I uefa super cup 1 world club final 1 charity shield ..All the finals that any Liverpool club manager can achieve ..He did it in 3 seasons. …then came hicks. .and Gillette. ..and we know the rest..love to see him under Fenways stability leading the reds. ..
The best manager Liverpool have had in 25 years. Shame the way it ended.