Liverpool keeper admits "many of my colleagues and me" hoped old
boss would return PLUS Suarez quizzes Uruguay team-mate about life
at Juve
Floored: Reina says a second stint under Benitez would have been
"ideal"
Brendan Rodgers faces a battle to win over the
Liverpool dressing room after Pepe Reina claimed “many” players
wanted Rafa Benitez back as manager.
Reina says he and several of his team-mates would have
preferred to see Benitez return and the Spaniard was also the
choice of many fans.
The Liverpool goalkeeper rates Benitez as “the best”,
and the likes of Maxi Rodriguez, Lucas and Daniel Agger would also
have welcomed him back.
Reina said: “For many of my colleagues and me, Rafa
Benitez would be the ideal candidate.
“It’s that I’m not objective about it, but he is the
coach who shaped me most. He is the best.”
High five! Benitez made Liverpool champions of Europe again
Reina’s admission presents Rodgers with the
first challenge of his Anfield reign and the former Swansea boss
must get the Benitez brigade behind him.
Benitez still has his supporters among the Liverpool
family, and Robbie Fowler claims he would have been his choice for
the job.
Benitez, who has never moved his family away from their
Merseyside home on the Wirral, would have jumped at the chance to
return to Liverpool.
He threatens to overshadow Rodgers in the same way that
Roy Hodgson was undermined by Dalglish’s presence at the club and
the Spaniard could be a rallying point for disaffected fans if the
Ulsterman falters.
Game on: Rodgers will have some convincing to do at
Anfield
Another major issue for Rodgers is Luis Suarez,
and the striker will have been unsettled by the events of the last
couple of weeks.
Suarez was very close to Dalglish, who resolutely
backed him during his race row with Patrice Evra, and respected the
Scot as a legend that the fans idolise.
Rodgers will not have the same standing in Suarez’s
eyes and will have to win over the Uruguayan against the backdrop
of the player's contract negotiations.
The Reds are keen to tie down the coveted striker this
summer with a four-year deal worth around £100,000-a-week.
Suarez has made conflicting noises about his future
and, while claiming he is happy at Liverpool, has also stated his
desire to play in Spain.
His Uruguayan team-mate and Juventus defender Martin
Caceres claims he has also asked him about the Turin club.
“It’s true that Luis and I have talked about Juventus,”
said Caceres. “He has asked me about the club, without going into
any details.
“I told him that Juventus are a team that always want
to win. He liked what I told him about the club, but he’s happy at
Liverpool at the moment.”
Rodgers must also speak to Dirk Kuyt, who is talking to
clubs about exercising the £1million escape clause in his contract
to join a foreign side.
Going Dutch? Kuyt could exercise an escape clause and
quit Liverpool
The Dutch international forward made up his
mind to leave because of a lack of first-team opportunities under
Dalglish and still seems set on going, despite the Scot’s
departure.
Rodgers can count on the full backing of Steven Gerrard
and Jamie Carragher, who have always given their total support to
whoever is in the Reds dug-out.
They will be looking forward to working with Rodgers
and will be right behind him.
