Tweet
Arsenal's Invincibles and Mourinho's original Chelsea team? OVERRATED... It's Benitez who is the best foreign coach we've had in Premier League
By Adrian Durham
PUBLISHED: 03:13 EST, 1 October 2013 | UPDATED: 04:28 EST, 1 October 2013
Wenger’s Invincibles? Overrated. Check the records, they lost to Middlesbrough, Chelsea and Manchester United that season.
Mourinho bringing the title to Chelsea for the first time in 50 years back in 2005? So what. With the money he had available he should have dominated the Premier League AND the Champions League with Chelsea, but he didn’t.
But Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2005? Now that is what I call a seriously brilliant achievement, and, for me, that is what makes Rafa Benitez the best foreign coach ever to have worked in England.
Historic: Rafa Benitez's (right) Liverpool came from three goals down to beat Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. Steven Gerrard (left) captained the Spaniard's side to glory in Istanbul
Flying the flag: Liverpool won Europe's top competition for the fifth time under Benitez's leadership
Disbelief: Gerrard lets the feeling sink in after the final whistle at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium
More from Adrian Durham...
If you count up trophies then there are foreign managers who have come to the Premier League and won more than Rafa Benitez. But I’m talking about pound-for-pound achievement.
Liverpool Football Club were adept at winning the trophies almost unwanted by big clubs with huge ambition - FA Cups, League Cups and a UEFA Cup.
But the huge hand of history on the club’s shoulder was way too weighty for most managers to bear at Anfield.
The years were ticking by and any dreams of being champions of England or Europe were becoming more and more distant.
At Liverpool, Benitez arrived in 2004, immediately persuaded Steven Gerrard to stay, made a big decision to let Michael Owen leave, signed Xabi Alonso and then, somehow, turned Liverpool into the champions of Europe in his first season.
Benitez found a Liverpool squad with poor dietary habits and a lack of discipline, who had finished 30 points behind the champions Arsenal and suffered UEFA Cup humiliation at the hands of Marseille.
His first task was to head to Portugal to sit down with Gerrard. The Liverpool captain was with the England squad at Euro 2004, and was all set for a move to Chelsea for £36million, according to reports. Benitez kept his main man.
He also told Jamie Carragher he was a centre half, not a full back, and played him in his best position, something the previous manager had failed to do.
A year later, Carragher was a colossus in a Champions League semi-final at Anfield against Chelsea, and Gerrard was man of the match in the final.
After arriving at Highbury, Arsene Wenger led Arsenal from their blip under Bruce Rioch, to title glory. Under George Graham a few years before some of those same players had won a couple of titles, and had even won a trophy in Europe, something Wenger has still failed to do.
Mourinho was able to break transfer records in order to elevate Chelsea to a title they craved.
Two successful foreign managers: but neither did the things Benitez did at Liverpool. Think beyond trophy-counting for a moment, and open your mind to what Rafa really achieved.
He gave Liverpool fans an emotional football experience, an amazing night, the kind of night none of those other managers can match. He understood the fans, he joined them unexpectedly in a bar in Cologne ahead of a Champions League tie.
Cunning: Benitez saw Jamie Carragher (left) as a centre half rather than a full back
Overrated? Arsene Wenger (right) led the likes of Kolo Toure (left) to the Premier League in 2004. Unbeaten over the 38 games, Wenger's side became known as the Invincibles
Romp: Jose Mourinho and his impressive Chelsea team lifted the Premier League trophy in 2005
He threw himself into what it meant to be a fan, a Liverpool fan. He embraced the club, its history and its traditions. And the fans loved him in return.
What’s more he took an unconvincing bunch of players at the extremes on the talent scale – from Djimi Traore to Steven Gerrard – to the pinnacle of European success. He masterminded the comeback from a seemingly impossible position, 3-0 down to Milan at half-time in the final.
That fifth European Cup now belongs to Liverpool Football Club.
The others had their successes, but nothing comes close to that night in Istanbul. I may be wrong, but I don’t think Liverpool fans would swap that special night in Istanbul for anything achieved by Wenger or Mourinho in England.
Fans favourite: Liverpool supporters hold a tribute to Benitez when he returned with Chelsea last season
Two trips to Old Trafford since my MailOnline column last week have done nothing to convince me David Moyes has the tactical knowledge to take Manchester United forward.
Brendan Rodgers outthought Moyes tactically in the first half of the Capital One Cup tie, and but for a bit of sharpness in front of goal, Liverpool could have been out of sight by the time Jose Enrique was caught napping at a set-piece seconds into the second half. Victor Moses’s free header was aimed at David De Gea, and in the end it was an unconvincing United win.
Wonder kid: Saido Berahino netted the winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Underwhelming: David Moyes could not get the best from Shinji Kagawa (right) or Marouane Fellaini (left)
Struggle: Moyes has endured a rocky start as Manchester United manager
Hitting the shelves: Adrian Durham's new book, Is He All That?, is released next week
So on Saturday I returned and saw a central midfield pairing of Michael Carrick and Anderson, Shinji Kagawa shoved out on the wing, Nani on the other wing, and Buttner unprotected at left-back. Throw in an absolute nightmare from Rio Ferdinand and United were beaten. Not even the mantra: ‘If in doubt, hit Fellaini’ worked, when the big man came on.
Moyes needs to get up to speed and fast, if he is to convince the doubters.
But with Wayne Rooney in the side, there is always hope.
He has shown quality, he has a strong work ethic, and he has added discipline to his game. He has made himself undroppable. Surely not even Moyes would be foolish enough to consider leaving Rooney out?
The curious case of Leighton Baines
The Everton Invincibles go marching on, but I am left with one question? Why does Leighton Baines shrink when he plays for England?
Against Newcastle he was whipping in balls, having shots, trying free kicks, making surging runs, dribbling, playing one-twos. Standard kind of Everton performance from Baines, and it was a joy to watch.
But stick an England shirt on him, and he looks hesitant, almost like he feels he doesn’t belong in such esteemed company. We all know he’s good enough, but he plays within himself for England, and that’s why Ashley Cole still gets the nod
Wilting: Leighton Baines (left) struggles to replicate his club form for the England side
Pick that one out: Baines netted two free-kicks against West Ham last month
Two years ago in an interview with MailOnline, Baines said this when asked about Capello’s decision to leave him at home and take Stephen Warnock (yes, Stephen Warnock) to the World Cup instead: ‘I did take stock in the summer and felt I needed to be bolder. I’d go away with England and look at everyone else and think how natural it seemed to them while I was just trying to be part of it.’
Since then Baines has set up a crucial goal in a qualifier against Switzerland, and scored from a free-kick in Moldova. He is 28 now Leighton Baines, so I think it’s time now that he got the nod over Ashley Cole.
It would be the decision of a brave manager. Over to you Roy…
Andre Villas-Boas should ban himself from taking Christian Eriksen off.
Had the Spurs manager been brave and kept the Dane on the pitch against Chelsea I have no doubt Spurs would have won.
But he swapped Lewis Holtby for Eriksen to stiffen up the midfield to try to stop Chelsea dominating. The change didn’t work – Andre Schurrle went clean through and only a stunning save from Hugo Lloris kept Spurs level.
Main man: Christian Eriksen has shone since his arrival at Tottenham this summer
And then Fernando Torres saw red and Spurs seized the initiative again. Had their playmaker been on the field, he might have pulled the strings to seal the win.
AVB is getting a lot right, but caution didn’t pay at the Lane on Saturday. I hope he learns from his mistake.
Think bigger! Arsene Wenger isn't eyeing the Premier League trophy with Arsenal just yet
Why does Arsene Wenger think it’s ‘ridiculous’ to talk of Arsenal winning the title?
United look poor, City are inconsistent and more keen for European success, Chelsea are without a striker, Spurs have so many new faces, Liverpool have a good XI but not a lot else.
And Arsenal sit on top of the table.
This has to be the best opportunity Arsene Wenger has had in some time to seize control of the Premier League and win the title.
In fact I would say this: given the circumstances the clubs around him find themselves in, it will be a spectacular failure from Arsene Wenger if the Gunners don’t win the title this season. Let’s see if he’s up to it.
Adrian Durham’s first book about football ‘Is He All That?’ is out next week. You can order it here.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2gT7pJUpX
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
By Adrian Durham
PUBLISHED: 03:13 EST, 1 October 2013 | UPDATED: 04:28 EST, 1 October 2013
Wenger’s Invincibles? Overrated. Check the records, they lost to Middlesbrough, Chelsea and Manchester United that season.
Mourinho bringing the title to Chelsea for the first time in 50 years back in 2005? So what. With the money he had available he should have dominated the Premier League AND the Champions League with Chelsea, but he didn’t.
But Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2005? Now that is what I call a seriously brilliant achievement, and, for me, that is what makes Rafa Benitez the best foreign coach ever to have worked in England.
Historic: Rafa Benitez's (right) Liverpool came from three goals down to beat Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. Steven Gerrard (left) captained the Spaniard's side to glory in Istanbul Flying the flag: Liverpool won Europe's top competition for the fifth time under Benitez's leadership Disbelief: Gerrard lets the feeling sink in after the final whistle at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium More from Adrian Durham...
- ADRIAN DURHAM COLUMN: Moyes got his tactics all wrong and looked to have no self-belief... how are the players going to believe in him?24/09/13
- ADRIAN DURHAM COLUMN: Diving Young is only following Bale's lead, Rooney should have donned his headgear for England and why it's time to lay off Hart17/09/13
- ADRIAN DURHAM COLUMN: Rooney should be with the squad in Kiev, centurion Lampard has failed for England and Scotland and Wales are hopelessly mired in mediocrity10/09/13
- ADRIAN DURHAM COLUMN: Butcher was bleeding so badly I thought he'd qualified for Wales and Pearce tried to run off a broken leg... but bless him Rooney can't play because of a cut head (I assume he looks as if he's been in a Saw film)03/09/13
- ADRIAN DURHAM: Wayne, do you really want to play for a negative boss who was scared of United? Also, Cole didn’t dive, he was fouled (and yes, I am being serious)...27/08/13
- ADRIAN DURHAM: I could do a better job than Wenger… I’d start with a bid for Bale, then buy Ibrahimovic, Silva, Fellaini and Cesar (oh, and I’d never ever have sold RVP to United)20/08/13
- ADRIAN DURHAM: Scotland fans used to cheer legends like King Kenny and wee Archie, now they have no stars, no hope and don't even care that their players are English13/08/13
- ADRIAN DURHAM: Only Chelsea and Man City have made statements this summer – Wenger's lost his touch, Spurs have been left hanging by Bale and Moyes has seen targets join rivals06/08/13
- VIEW FULL ARCHIVE
If you count up trophies then there are foreign managers who have come to the Premier League and won more than Rafa Benitez. But I’m talking about pound-for-pound achievement.
Liverpool Football Club were adept at winning the trophies almost unwanted by big clubs with huge ambition - FA Cups, League Cups and a UEFA Cup.
But the huge hand of history on the club’s shoulder was way too weighty for most managers to bear at Anfield.
The years were ticking by and any dreams of being champions of England or Europe were becoming more and more distant.
At Liverpool, Benitez arrived in 2004, immediately persuaded Steven Gerrard to stay, made a big decision to let Michael Owen leave, signed Xabi Alonso and then, somehow, turned Liverpool into the champions of Europe in his first season.
Benitez found a Liverpool squad with poor dietary habits and a lack of discipline, who had finished 30 points behind the champions Arsenal and suffered UEFA Cup humiliation at the hands of Marseille.
His first task was to head to Portugal to sit down with Gerrard. The Liverpool captain was with the England squad at Euro 2004, and was all set for a move to Chelsea for £36million, according to reports. Benitez kept his main man.
He also told Jamie Carragher he was a centre half, not a full back, and played him in his best position, something the previous manager had failed to do.
A year later, Carragher was a colossus in a Champions League semi-final at Anfield against Chelsea, and Gerrard was man of the match in the final.
After arriving at Highbury, Arsene Wenger led Arsenal from their blip under Bruce Rioch, to title glory. Under George Graham a few years before some of those same players had won a couple of titles, and had even won a trophy in Europe, something Wenger has still failed to do.
Mourinho was able to break transfer records in order to elevate Chelsea to a title they craved.
Two successful foreign managers: but neither did the things Benitez did at Liverpool. Think beyond trophy-counting for a moment, and open your mind to what Rafa really achieved.
He gave Liverpool fans an emotional football experience, an amazing night, the kind of night none of those other managers can match. He understood the fans, he joined them unexpectedly in a bar in Cologne ahead of a Champions League tie.
Cunning: Benitez saw Jamie Carragher (left) as a centre half rather than a full back Overrated? Arsene Wenger (right) led the likes of Kolo Toure (left) to the Premier League in 2004. Unbeaten over the 38 games, Wenger's side became known as the Invincibles Romp: Jose Mourinho and his impressive Chelsea team lifted the Premier League trophy in 2005 He threw himself into what it meant to be a fan, a Liverpool fan. He embraced the club, its history and its traditions. And the fans loved him in return.
What’s more he took an unconvincing bunch of players at the extremes on the talent scale – from Djimi Traore to Steven Gerrard – to the pinnacle of European success. He masterminded the comeback from a seemingly impossible position, 3-0 down to Milan at half-time in the final.
That fifth European Cup now belongs to Liverpool Football Club.
The others had their successes, but nothing comes close to that night in Istanbul. I may be wrong, but I don’t think Liverpool fans would swap that special night in Istanbul for anything achieved by Wenger or Mourinho in England.
Fans favourite: Liverpool supporters hold a tribute to Benitez when he returned with Chelsea last seasonTwo trips to Old Trafford since my MailOnline column last week have done nothing to convince me David Moyes has the tactical knowledge to take Manchester United forward.
Brendan Rodgers outthought Moyes tactically in the first half of the Capital One Cup tie, and but for a bit of sharpness in front of goal, Liverpool could have been out of sight by the time Jose Enrique was caught napping at a set-piece seconds into the second half. Victor Moses’s free header was aimed at David De Gea, and in the end it was an unconvincing United win.
Wonder kid: Saido Berahino netted the winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford Underwhelming: David Moyes could not get the best from Shinji Kagawa (right) or Marouane Fellaini (left)
Struggle: Moyes has endured a rocky start as Manchester United manager Hitting the shelves: Adrian Durham's new book, Is He All That?, is released next weekSo on Saturday I returned and saw a central midfield pairing of Michael Carrick and Anderson, Shinji Kagawa shoved out on the wing, Nani on the other wing, and Buttner unprotected at left-back. Throw in an absolute nightmare from Rio Ferdinand and United were beaten. Not even the mantra: ‘If in doubt, hit Fellaini’ worked, when the big man came on.
Moyes needs to get up to speed and fast, if he is to convince the doubters.
But with Wayne Rooney in the side, there is always hope.
He has shown quality, he has a strong work ethic, and he has added discipline to his game. He has made himself undroppable. Surely not even Moyes would be foolish enough to consider leaving Rooney out?
The curious case of Leighton Baines
The Everton Invincibles go marching on, but I am left with one question? Why does Leighton Baines shrink when he plays for England?
Against Newcastle he was whipping in balls, having shots, trying free kicks, making surging runs, dribbling, playing one-twos. Standard kind of Everton performance from Baines, and it was a joy to watch.
But stick an England shirt on him, and he looks hesitant, almost like he feels he doesn’t belong in such esteemed company. We all know he’s good enough, but he plays within himself for England, and that’s why Ashley Cole still gets the nod
Wilting: Leighton Baines (left) struggles to replicate his club form for the England side Pick that one out: Baines netted two free-kicks against West Ham last monthTwo years ago in an interview with MailOnline, Baines said this when asked about Capello’s decision to leave him at home and take Stephen Warnock (yes, Stephen Warnock) to the World Cup instead: ‘I did take stock in the summer and felt I needed to be bolder. I’d go away with England and look at everyone else and think how natural it seemed to them while I was just trying to be part of it.’
Since then Baines has set up a crucial goal in a qualifier against Switzerland, and scored from a free-kick in Moldova. He is 28 now Leighton Baines, so I think it’s time now that he got the nod over Ashley Cole.
It would be the decision of a brave manager. Over to you Roy…
Andre Villas-Boas should ban himself from taking Christian Eriksen off.
Had the Spurs manager been brave and kept the Dane on the pitch against Chelsea I have no doubt Spurs would have won.
But he swapped Lewis Holtby for Eriksen to stiffen up the midfield to try to stop Chelsea dominating. The change didn’t work – Andre Schurrle went clean through and only a stunning save from Hugo Lloris kept Spurs level.
Main man: Christian Eriksen has shone since his arrival at Tottenham this summer And then Fernando Torres saw red and Spurs seized the initiative again. Had their playmaker been on the field, he might have pulled the strings to seal the win.
AVB is getting a lot right, but caution didn’t pay at the Lane on Saturday. I hope he learns from his mistake.
Think bigger! Arsene Wenger isn't eyeing the Premier League trophy with Arsenal just yet Why does Arsene Wenger think it’s ‘ridiculous’ to talk of Arsenal winning the title?
United look poor, City are inconsistent and more keen for European success, Chelsea are without a striker, Spurs have so many new faces, Liverpool have a good XI but not a lot else.
And Arsenal sit on top of the table.
This has to be the best opportunity Arsene Wenger has had in some time to seize control of the Premier League and win the title.
In fact I would say this: given the circumstances the clubs around him find themselves in, it will be a spectacular failure from Arsene Wenger if the Gunners don’t win the title this season. Let’s see if he’s up to it.
Adrian Durham’s first book about football ‘Is He All That?’ is out next week. You can order it here.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2gT7pJUpX
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
Comment