Rafael Benitez
Rafael Benitez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudesis a Spanish football coach currently managing Newcastle United. He is the only manager in history to have won the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup...
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth16 April 1960
CityMadrid, Spain
birmingham clubs concerned cope drawn good league maybe might playing position rather squad staying three
At this stage, with all Premiership clubs you've got to play good teams. Maybe Birmingham will be more concerned about their league position and this might not be as important to them as staying in the division. I feel I've got a big enough squad to cope with playing in three competitions and all I can say is that I'd have rather been drawn at home.
field game job players rest side squad strong time
But we have another game on Friday, and this is the time to use the squad to give players some rest and to field a side which will still be strong and do the job for us.
against believe bigger compared games last manage season squad win
We know we can win against them, but over a season the differences are more demanding. But compared to last season we now have a bigger and better squad and I believe we can manage the games in a different way.
biggest confidence difference football handle mentality physical season squad terms
In terms of the football and the mentality of the squad I think we have much more confidence in ourselves. The biggest difference for us this season is we know how to handle the physical games.
fight four good possible squad top
Totten-ham have a good team, a good squad and a good manager. They will fight to be in the top four and we will try to do the same. I don't know if it's possible but we will try.
blow coming cope europe games good squad
It is a blow to us because of the big games in Europe that we have coming up, but we have a good squad and we will have to cope without him.
challenge convinced fight games good last players squad strong team trophy
My idea is to have two players for each position. If you have a strong squad you can play all the games with a good team. I am convinced we already have a better team than last season. Yes, we want to fight for the Premiership, but we want to go for all of the trophies. We will not say one trophy is more important than the other, because we now have a squad that can challenge in all competitions.
challenge convinced fight games good last players squad strong team trophy
My idea is to have two players for each position, ... If you have a strong squad you can play all the games with a good team. I am convinced we already have a better team than last season. Yes, we want to fight for the Premiership, but we want to go for all of the trophies. We will not say one trophy is more important than the other, because we now have a squad that can challenge in all competitions.
air good team
I know this player. He is good in the air and can make this team stronger.
competition country pleased supporters
I know that this competition is important for the whole country and also to our supporters so I am pleased we are through.
advantage against atmosphere behind expecting fans fight good knew team
It was against a team that we would be expecting to fight for qualification. They are a very good team at home, with their fans behind them But I had an advantage in that I knew the team and knew the atmosphere here.
against expecting fight team
It was against a team that we would be expecting to fight for qualification,
either fair games gone
It was a fair result, one of those games which could have gone either way,
afford cannot finish goal needed opposition ourselves second
There was a nervousness there and we've put ourselves under pressure. When you are not scoring, you cannot afford to give the opposition one or two chances. We needed that second goal to finish the game.