Benayoun blames Benitez
Yossi Benayoun has launched a scathing attack on Rafa Benitez accusing him of forcing him out of Liverpool.
The Israeli international left Liverpool for Chelsea earlier this month and he claims the treatment he received from former Reds boss Rafa Benitez was the reason for his departure.
The 30-year-old has accused Benitez of trying to break his spirit and treating him with a lack of respect during his time on Merseyside.
Respect
"I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit," Benayoun told the News of The World.
"When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game.
"And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why.
"There are many examples of him treating me badly.
"Last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benitez told me he was surprised they booed because I was not good enough.
Confidence
"It was as if the fans' reaction worked against me. The situation got worse afterwards.
"He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy.
"I felt so unhappy but, out of respect to the club, I never spoke out. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6255620,00.htmlBenayoun hammers 'disrespectful' Benitez
Yossi Benayoun has launched a sensational scathing attack on Rafael Benitez, saying the manager was the reason he left Liverpool and that the club is better off for his departure.
Benayoun, who joined Chelsea for an undisclosed fee on July 2, accused Benitez for destroying his confidence and showing him a lack of respect.
He told the News of The World: "I made up my mind to leave a long time ago because of Benitez. He never treated me with the respect I deserved. If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit. When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game. And when the fans wanted me to play, Benitez told me he couldn't understand why."
Liverpool suffered a disastrous season by their high standards last term, falling out of the Premier League's top four and crashing out of the Champions League at the group stage. But despite the lack of team success, Benitez told Benayoun he was not good enough to warrant a place in the team, according the to 30-year-old midfielder.
Benayoun said: "There are many examples of him treating me badly. Last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benitez told me he was surprised they booed because I was not good enough. It was as if the fans' reaction worked against me. The situation got worse afterwards.
"He told me I was a better player as a substitute instead of starting in the team. Then, when we played Birmingham after I hadn't started a game for a month, he didn't tell me I was starting until two hours before the game. He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy. I felt so unhappy but, out of respect to the club, I never spoke out. The players and the people at the top of the club knew how I felt.
"I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. It was the same for me. Benitez tried to break me like he broke Riera. I was sure he wanted me to attack him in the press during the season so he could turn the fans against me, so I kept quiet. I felt he was waiting for me to make a mistake so he could use it against me.''
The Israel international was told his time at Anfield was over by Benitez the day before the final game of last season, at Hull.
He explained: "Benitez pulled me to one side after training and said: 'You will not be in the squad for this game. Thank you for your three years of service, now you can call your agent to do a deal with another club.' That's when Chelsea made an offer and the deal was done before he left. I knew I had to get away from Benitez. I could not risk waiting to see if he kept his job and I could not turn down such a massive club as Chelsea. It is good for Liverpool he has gone, but it was too late for me.''
On his switch to Chelsea, Benayoun said: "I'm not stupid. I know they have many great players and it will be hard to play in the team every week. But what's important for me is I know I will be treated with respect. Carlo Ancelotti is a fantastic manager and he knows how to treat players.''
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=807815&sec=england&cc=4716Rafa Benítez made my life a misery at Liverpool, says Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun has accused Rafa Benítez of trying to break him at Liverpool. The midfielder said the former Liverpool manager was the sole reason for him wanting to leave Anfield.
The Israeli midfielder, who joined Chelsea in a four-year deal this month, said the former manager made his life a misery while he was at the club.
"Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," said Benayoun. "There is only one reason – Rafa Benítez."
The midfielder says the Spaniard, who left Liverpool to manage Internazionale, never treated him with respect he felt he deserved.
"If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit," he told the News of the World.
"When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game. On two occasions early last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benítez told me he was surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough.
"He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy."
Benayoun said he was very unhappy but out of respect for the club he did not speak out. He said the players and people at the club know how he felt.
"I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. It was the same for me. Benítez tried to break me like he broke Riera."
The 30-year-old said before the final game of the season Benítez pulled him aside in training and said: "You will not be in the squad for this game. Thank you for your three years of service, now you can call your agent to do a deal with another club."
"That's when Chelsea made an offer," said Benayoun, "and the deal was done before Benítez left."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/11/rafa-benitez-yossi-benayoun-liverpool[ 本文被arsenal在2010-07-11 18:31重新編輯 ]