Rafael Benítez lost the most trusted member of his
managerial team yesterday when Pako Ayestarán, his confidant and
assistant for the past 11 years, quit after a series of disputes
with the Liverpool manager. Liverpool's assistant manager tendered
his resignation to Benítez after being confronted over reports
linking him with a return to his native Spain.
Although he has not formally severed ties with the club, the
44-year-old Ayestarán will not be on the bench for today's Premier
League game at home to Derby County and his departure will be
confirmed once outstanding contractual issues have been
resolved.
"He said that maybe he would like to leave the club and we are now
analysing the situation" was as much as Benítez was prepared to
divulge on the matter yesterday, though the depth of his grievance
with his friend is acute.
They began collaborating more than a decade ago and their fortunes
have risen in tandem, with promotion to the Primera División with
Tenerife and two league titles and a Uefa Cup at Valencia before
moving to Liverpool in 2004 and extending their successful
relationship with Champions League and FA Cup wins.
It is Ayestarán, a qualified fitness coach, who is credited with
the rotation policy that has generated both silverware and
criticism for Benítez at the Mestalla and Anfield and he has been
instrumental in the improved fitness and sports science methods
introduced at Liverpool. Charts detailing the exact minutes each
player has performed during a season, which line Benítez's office
and influence selection policy, are an Ayestarán trademark, along
with a man-made hill the duo had constructed at the club's Melwood
training ground to improve stamina levels.
His influence is not confined to physical conditioning, however,
with the Liverpool assistant manager used as a sounding board for
tactical and technical advice by Benítez who, with his team
unbeaten and impressive in the Premier League and Champions League
qualifiers, admitted the departure came at the worst possible time.
"Yes it has," he conceded.
Benítez added: "Eleven years we have worked together but now we
must analysis the situation. I know things but the best thing now
is to say nothing and wait. I think he will go but I don't think he
will be at the game tomorrow."
Ayestarán's resignation is understood to have followed a series of
disagreements between the pair, including changes to Liverpool's
pre-season training routine as Benítez sought to avoid a repeat of
the team's poor start to last season, but reports linking the coach
with a return to Valencia this week brought matters to a head after
training on Thursday.
Ayestarán had been strongly tipped to take up a
director-of-football role at Athletic Bilbao in the summer
depending on the outcome of the Basque club's presidential
election. The candidate with whom Ayestarán was associated lost,
and Benítez believed that would end the uncertainty surrounding his
friend and colleague, but he has been dismayed at fresh reports of
interest from Valencia.
Benítez opted to confront Ayestarán over the Valencia link on
Thursday afternoon and his assistant announced that he no longer
wished to work for the club. The Liverpool squad were informed of
the development yesterday.
