Rafa Benitez - The Destroyer of Teams

[TornAndFrayed]

Rationalize going from a historic top to trailing Milan by 13 points in 4 months all you want
Leonardo stepped in and made things massively better for them.

 

[serghei]

Rationalize going from a historic top to trailing Milan by 13 points in 4 months all you want

Keep it simplistic then. Suit yourself.

 

[Ini8]

You're comparing that old Inter side, with a lot of players who retired after 2010, with this Real Madrid side, which is the 2nd most valuable in the world? There is a massive difference IMO.

Only Toldo retired.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010–11_F.C._Internazionale_Milano_season#Out

 

[Hamzah]

Rafa's quality? With this squad? They will win the treble.

 

[Sunny Mir]

Hamzah in fullon mode

 

[XaviMessiGirl]

You're comparing that old Inter side, with a lot of players who retired after 2010, with this Real Madrid side, which is the 2nd most valuable in the world? There is a massive difference IMO.

The team Rafa inherited was nearly identical to the one that won the treble. The difference was the players didn't get along with him and his training methods caused a lot of injuries. It wasn't all his fault since a lot of the stars of that team were getting up in age and would have declined naturally anyway, but I think he sped up the process.

What it really comes down to though in terms of Inter's position these days is that the club can't keep up in the transfer market anymore, which has nothing to do with Rafa. Only what happened while he was actually there he can be held accountable for.

 

[TornAndFrayed]

Btw, league results for Inter 2010/2011

Benitez 15 games , 6 victories, 5 draws, 4 defeats. goal average = +6
Leonardo 23 games, 17 victories, 2 draws, 4 defeats. goal average = +21

There goes the "aging" argument as far as Benitez is concerned.

 

[serghei]

It wasn't all his fault since a lot of the stars of that team were getting up in age and would have declined naturally anyway, but I think he sped up the process.

I think 2010 was the swan song for many there, Chivu, Zanetti, Samuel, Lucio, Cordoba, Cambiasso, Stankovic and others. Many of their players were well up in their thrities and a decline was obvious after Mourinho left. It's part of the reason he left IMO, he knew he couldn't have repeated the 2010. Milan made several good transfers in the summer of 2010, including the signing of Ibrahimovic. Bottom line, you may think differently, but, at the time, I knew in advance Inter will have a major fall after 2010. It just wasn't the start of a dominant period for them, you could tell by looking at their team, the average age was like 32 years old or smth. That team was done at the highest level. They gave it all in 2010 and that was it. Feel free to dissagree.

 

[serghei]

Btw, league results for Inter 2010/2011

Benitez 15 games , 6 victories, 5 draws, 4 defeats. goal average = +6
Leonardo 23 games, 17 victories, 2 draws, 4 defeats. goal average = +21

There goes the "aging" argument as far as Benitez is concerned.

Leonardo also achieved the performance of receiving 5 goals at home from a mediocre Schalke side in Champions League. And it's normal for a coach to take time to get used to a new league. Leonardo coached Milan before Inter, he knew Serie A and the players in it very well. Spole italian very well also. Those things count, believe it or not.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

I think 2010 was the swan song for many there, Chivu, Zanetti, Samuel, Lucio, Cordoba, Cambiasso, Stankovic and others. Many of their players were well up in their thrities and a decline was obvious after Mourinho left. It's part of the reason he left IMO, he knew he couldn't have repeated the 2010. Milan made several good transfers in the summer of 2010, including the signing of Ibrahimovic. Bottom line, you may think differently, but, at the time, I knew in advance Inter will have a major fall after 2010. It just wasn't the start of a dominant period for them, you could tell by looking at their team, the average age was like 32 years old or smth. That team was done at the highest level. They gave it all in 2010 and that was it. Feel free to dissagree.

100% accurate. That season that entire Inter team played above their usual level. Maicon was a world class RB, Samuel and Lucio were the best CB pairing in the world that season, Sneijder played the best season of his life and for one single season was very very close to prime Xavi and Iniesta level. Even Milito played amazing. Julio Cesar was the best gk in the world that season too.

The only players who were already phenomenal were Zanetti and Eto'o.
Wasn't it the very next season in which Bale absolutely destroyed Maicon?

 

[xavi_the_Boss]

Leonardo also achieved the performance of receiving 5 goals at home from a mediocre Schalke side in Champions League. And it's normal for a coach to take time to get used to a new league. Leonardo coached Milan before Inter, he knew Serie A and the players in it very well. Spole italian very well also. Those things count, believe it or not.

Benitez didn´t do much better in his 3rd season in italy.
He hasn´t done much since he finished 2nd with Liverpool in 2009.Failed with Inter,decent with chelsea and then failed again.

 

[serghei]

Benitez didn´t do much better in his 3rd season in italy.
He hasn´t done much since he finished 2nd with Liverpool.

Doesn't mean he can't do the job for Real. People are acting as if Real won't be contenders because Benitez is their coach now. Please... they will be better than they were this year.

 

[xavi_the_Boss]

Doesn't mean he can't do the job for Real. People are acting as if Real won't be contenders because Benitez is their coach now. Please... they will be better than they were this year.

What makes you think that?
I don´t think he is any better then ancelotti but of course RM will be contenders because of the quality of the players.

 

[serghei]

What makes you think that?
I don´t think he is any better then ancelotti but of course RM will be contenders because of the quality of the players.

I don't think Perez cares who's better. They want titles. This year they have won 0. I reckon there's a fair chance Benitez will at least get them in a Copa del Rey final.

 

[Hamzah]

Hamzah in fullon mode

What does that mean? Sounds funny.

Btw bbc say that Rafa admires sterling, and talksport say he wants to sign koscielny.