*NEVER treated him with any respect.
*DESTROYED his confidence.
*TRIED to break him.
*ORDERED him to find another club.
Manager Benitez left Liverpool at the end of the season after a
disastrous trophyless campaign which ended with the Reds failing to
even qualify for the Champions League.
And Benayoun, 30, reveals the truth about his volatile
relationship with the man who has now replaced Jose Mourinho as
boss of European Cup winners Inter Milan.
"Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," said Benayoun, who
joined Premier League champions Chelsea in a £5.5million move
earlier this month.
"There is only one reason - Rafa Benitez.
"I agreed to join Chelsea before Roy Hodgson was appointed
Liverpool's new manager.
"It's a dream for me such a fantastic club have given me this
opportunity.
"But I want Liverpool fans to know the truth and for them to
know 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."
Benayoun, who scored nine goals for Liverpool last season,
added: "There are many examples of him treating me badly.
"On two occasions early 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 the fans 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.
"On the day before the final game of last season at Hull,
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
Benitez left."
But Benayoun admits his relationship with Benitez deteriorated
on the FIRST day of last season.
"The previous season when we finished second in the Premier
League, I was happy with my performance in the final months but I
was not sure if the manager thought I was a good player," he
added.
"I told Benitez I would go if he wanted, but he told me I was
important and he would give me a new contract, which I
signed.
"But then for the first game of the new season I wasn't in the
team again. The manager ignored me when I wanted to know
why.
"After he ignored me for a long time, he needed me for Europe
when Ryan Babel was suspended.
"I said: 'You need me now and I will always do my
best.'
"I scored against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League
semi-final. It was a really emotional moment for me. The fans could
see what it meant to me.
"I couldn't say at the time, but I knew this was my last season
at Liverpool and I wanted a special end.
"I thought: 'No matter how the manager is treating me, I'm
showing the fans the club is in my heart.'
"I knew I had to get away from Benitez. A lot of people at
Liverpool treated me well and asked me to stay, but I could not
turn down such a massive club as Chelsea.
"I could not risk waiting to see if Benitez kept his
job.
"The club said they understood why I was unhappy and promised
they'd let me leave in the summer if an offer came while Benitez
was manager.
"It is good for Liverpool Benitez has gone, but it was too late
for me.
"I know everyone working there will be a lot happier and I
believe Roy Hodgson is a good choice.
"It was a privilege for me to play for such a great club in
front of great fans. I thought I would be staying for a lot
longer."
Benayoun realises he faces as tough a time forcing his way into
the Chelsea side.
He said: "I'm not stupid. I know Chelsea 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."