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Tag: Benitez

  • Celta Vigo part ways with Benitez

    Celta Vigo part ways with Benitez

    Celta Vigo have parted ways with manager Rafael Benitez and his staff eight months after their appointment, the LaLiga club said yesterday.

    Celta are 17th  in the standings with 24 points, two above the relegation zone, after Sunday’s 4-0 loss at leaders Real Madrid.

    The team “has not obtained the results expected by the club” during the former Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea manager’s tenure, Celta said in a statement.

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    “The club would like to express to Rafa Benitez and his assistants its most sincere gratitude for the honesty and professionalism they have shown since their arrival,” they added.

    Celta visit 14th -placed Sevilla on Sunday.

  • EPL: Liverpool’s visit ‘special’ for me, Benitez says

    EPL: Liverpool’s visit ‘special’ for me, Benitez says

    Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United host Liverpool in the English Premier League on Sunday and the manager says playing against his former side will be a special and emotional experience.

    The Spaniard was in charge of the Merseyside club for six years from 2004 and guided them to their fifth Champions League title in his debut season.

    After spells at Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid, Benitez was brought in to save Newcastle from relegation in March last year.

    He did not succeed but helped them back into the top flight immediately and faces his old side which he has not lost against in two previous meetings.

    “It’s a special game for me. It will be emotional, because I spent so many years there, and have so many good memories. My family still live in Liverpool, so it is my home,” Benitez told Newcastle’s website (www.nufc.co.uk).

    “I have a lot of positive, very good relationships with Liverpool fans, (including) the families connected to Hillsborough. There are a lot of connections, and it will be very emotional.”

    Nostalgia aside, Benitez said he is focused on ensuring his team get all three points against Liverpool.

    Newcastle are 10th in the league with nine points from six games.

    “I have to concentrate on Newcastle United, trying to win,” he said.

    Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp seeks his first victory over Newcastle United to stay close to the four teams above his side in the league table.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Benitez hands Ameobi Newcastle United lifeline

    Benitez hands Ameobi Newcastle United lifeline

    Newcastle United’s coach Rafa Benitez has recalled Sammy Ameobi from his loan spell at Bolton Wanderers.
    The 24-year-old, whose contract at the St James’ Park expires at the end of this season, last featured for the Magpies in 2015 and his future had seemed away from the EFL Championship high flyers, with the Trotters hoping to make his deal permanent.
    But a combination of his impressive showings – four goals in 24 appearances for Phil Parkinson’s side – and loss of influential players such as Mohamed Diame and Christian Atsu to African Cup of Nations duty, leaves the Spaniard no option but to hand the former Nigeria U-20 international another chance.
    “He has done well with Bolton. He is a player that can play in the wide areas,” Benitez told Chronicle Live.
    “We’ll bring him back and see if he is fine and can give us something. We have players going to the African Cup of Nations.We have to be sure we have some players. If he’d doing well why not?
    “It depends on him if he can stay here or not. It depends how much he can give to us,” he said.

  • ASSURANCE! Benitez hints that Navas will be first choice

    ASSURANCE! Benitez hints that Navas will be first choice

    Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez has suggested he sees Keylor Navas as his first-choice goalkeeper next season.

    Madrid, whose legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas left earlier in the summer, have been regularly linked with a move for Manchester United’s David De Gea.

    Keeper Kiko Casilla moved to the Bernabeu, where he began his career, from Espanyol earlier this summer.

    But Benitez, speaking after his side’s 4-1 International Champions Cup win over Manchester City in Melbourne on Friday, indicated that Navas was at the forefront of his plans.

    Costa Rica international Navas moved to the Bernabeu from Levante last summer, and the coach was asked whether he saw him as a first choice.

    He told reporters: “I think so, yes. We wanted to give him the chance to play and prove himself, and he has done well.

    “I only need one goalkeeper in each match and, as long as I have one, I’m happy.”

    Asked about De Gea, he said: “I don’t know. He is not here and I don’t know.

    “I don’t speak to [Manchester United manager Louis] Van Gaal every day.”

    Benitez also said he was confident that captain Sergio Ramos — a United target — and striker Karim Benzema, who has been linked with Arsenal, would stay.

    Madrid have consistently rebuffed suggestions that star players could be leaving the Bernabeu.

    But Ramos, asked by reporters in the mixed zone following the match when he planned to speak about his future, said only: “Now there is less time.”

  • Napoli signs Benitez

    Napoli signs Benitez

    The outgoing Chelsea manager has been confirmed by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis as the replacement to Walter Mazzarri at the Stadio San Paolo
    Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has claimed that Rafa Benitez has been hired as the new coach at the Serie A club.

    Despite finishing second in Serie A, Walter Mazzarri parted ways with the Partenopei and, until Friday’s tease from the owner, who would replace him in the Stadio San Paolo was up in the air.

    However, De Laurentiis has ended the speculation by revealing that the outgoing Chelsea boss – who helped the Blues lift the Europa League trophy this season – will soon step into Mazzarri’s shoes on a two-year deal.

    He told Sky Sport Italiaon Friday: “I’ve given myself a birthday gift, I’ve signed Benitez. I’ll make it official in the next few days as Benitez needs to end things with Chelsea.

    “He’ll have a two-year contract, no longer. We need to get to know each other first, then we’ll see.”
    Despite achieving continental glory with the Blues and securing a Champions League spot by finishing third in the Premier League, the former Liverpool boss is not expected to remain in charge at Stamford Bridge.

  • Benitez hails Moses

    Benitez hails Moses

    Super Eagles and Chelsea forward Victor Moses has been lauded by the club’s interim manager Rafael Benitez for his performance in the current campaign.

    Benitez has secured Champions League football and lifted the Europa League trophy since taking over from Roberto Di Matteo back in November.

    The Spaniard in an interview before his final competitive game in charge at Stamford Bridge spoke about the progress of his players over the past seven months.

    “It is a stronger team. The players have been improving and have more experience. With young players we say it is a team in transition with people like Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Marin, Moses. They are new players and they are doing well. They are improving and learning, and have experience of competing for trophies which is important in a top side,” Benitez said on chelseafc.com.

    Meanwhile skipper John Terry, Bertrand and Eden Hazard were not available for Sunday’s home fixture against Everton.