From 2003-2009 in European competition, Benitez was unmatched. Never had the best team but had an amazing power to work a tie in his favour tactically. And he could do it with defence, counter attack or pressing/attacking. One Champions League win, another final, another semi-final. Uefa Cup win with Valencia in 2004. Won away at the Camp Nou, San Siro and Bernabeu over consecutive seasons. People talk about the 2005 final against Milan but from a coaching perspective, the two-legged win over an incredibly strong Juventus in the quarters was more impressive; two different tactical setups between the home and away legs, done with limited bit-part players like Scott Carson, Igor Biscan, Anthony Le Tallec, Antonio Nunez. It was maybe the only time Capello admitted losing a tactical battle. Benitez got the better of him, Mourinho(x2), Rijkaard, Ancelotti, Mancini, Wenger, Koeman over this period. The only time I saw him genuinely outthought tactically in Europe at that time was in the home leg against Hiddink's Chelsea in the next round after this match when they man marked Gerrard with Essien, and even then, in the second leg Benitez made an unusual and clever change to the midfield shape and came very close to turning the result round. He's won everything there is to win at club level. Two La Ligas, a Champions League, two Uefa Cups/Europa Leagues, and the domestic cups in England and Italy. Coached three full seasons in the second tier in Spain and England, and got promoted in all three of them. He may have been too much of an autocrat to fit with the egos at Inter or Real Madrid (where a coach like Ancelotti excels) but he's proven his ability many, many times over his career. This 4-0 over Real is one of the best Liverpool performances I've ever seen.

One of the greatest coaches to ever do it. Thank you for gracing the game with your intelligent tactics. We need more videos from Rafa please!

greatest liverpool performance of my lifetime. it's the one thing klopp hasn't surpassed him in. everytime klopp lets madrid sit deep and counter into space like a league 2 team in the FA Cup and with the quality of their players it inevitably works. liverpool battered them in paris and yet you could still tell once they didn't score that madrid would nick a goal on the counter. need benitez to chip in with a one off tactic for their tie next month.

@AkshatSharma-uz7im

7 ай бұрын

Bro what do u think is the reason why Klopp hasn't won once since 2018 against Madrid. Is it the midfielders battle where Madrid is superior? Because in finals Konate defended Vini really well. Or is it because our attakcers are not clinical enough?

Master at his work

Rafa What a Man ❤

Balance --- the word that defines Rafa´s teams.

I remember the match very well.. Absolutely tore Madrid to shreds...

@outlawfly664

Жыл бұрын

In the last 6 meetings which includes two CL finals, Real Madrid has tore Liverpool to shreds. And remember, Rafa Benitez is a Real Madrid product both as a player and coach, same with Vincente del Bosque and Zidane (as a coach).

Valencia, Liverpool, Newcastle and Everton legend :)

@Doggomorph

Жыл бұрын

Real Madrid

@seanspencer9502

Жыл бұрын

Not an Everton legend I’m afraid 😂

I remember watching this game live, it was fantastic. If I’m not wrong we lost to chelsea in the next phase in that incredible 4-4 at Stamford Bridge. This was probably the best team Rafa had at Liverpool, even though it’s not the one that won the trophies. Watching this video, though, it feels like a very direct team. And they did play like that. They won the ball and immediately passed it forward. It was not a creative team. Only xabi alonso really was a creative player, and he played quite far back. Even gerrard, who had incredible passing range, did not really use it playing as a 10. I think it was an industrious and disciplined team, but not one that would dominate possession. I don’t think it’s as ‘balanced’ as Rafa says it was for this reason. They also lacked other attributes, such as aerial goals. They played a fantastic season that year, but those weaknesses are probably why they did not win trophies.

@jackrichardson4089

Жыл бұрын

Gerrard and Torres only played about 12 league games together in 2008/9, despite the great season we had. I think it was fairly balanced in terms of the quality from back to front in our main XI, but we lacked the depth to push us over the line. I think we'd have won the title if we kept Crouch rather than signing Keane.

@andyng5321

Жыл бұрын

@@jackrichardson4089 Keane would still have won us the 4 points to overtake man u, it was because benitez was egoistic and chose not to use him cause it was bought for him by the board and not his own choice

@GeoGyf

Жыл бұрын

The balance Benitez mentions is because with Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Leiva the team has multiple roles covered, they can play as holding midfielders and control tempo, they can defend against pressure, they can man-mark, they can do long balls either to switch sides or for direct threats. Essentially the midfield is balanced for attack and defence. The fullbacks that can switch play with long balls or run forward & the attacking players who can cross-cut or attack spaces, make the team even more balanced. They were a creative team, but not a possession team (i think your choice of words wasnt correct).

Great video. Would love if you did one with Ranieri on his title-winming Leicester team. We all know the basics - Kante, counter-attack, RAF front three - but I'd love to hear more detail from his perspective

"We need precise tactic to stop Robben, keep the balance, and counterpress. Got it, and offensively speaking ? Come on man, we had prime Gerrard and prime Torres".

Casillas MOTM, It should have been 8!

Great

OH YESSS!!!

This liverpool team was nice

VIVA LA RAFALUTION

God I love this channel

Invite Thomas Tuchel please Uefa Champions league final Man City 0-1 Chelsea

It's a pity that Rafa hasn't still given with the key at Celta Vigo... Let's hope he turns the situation around!

Balance

Reds thru and thru🤜🤛

In the Defense he needs to be more strategy. The part before was really good.

Maybe... the most intelligent manager. Forest waiting...

Ah yes, 'attacking' fullback Arbeloa kzread.info/dash/bejne/moqNo8aapdnYeqg.html . Rafa explained Pool's formation more than the games, particularly ignoring how each goal shifted the team approaches.

Mascherano was so great that when a reporter asked sir alex Ferguson that if he could buy any player who would it be? Sir alex replied "probably mascherano"

@vincentcastro366

Жыл бұрын

Bruh

Old news.

Lol Rafa on lots of videos. Sniffing around for a job

Liverpool chelsea champion league semi final analiz tactics mourinho VS benitez two Wolf menajer