The Benitez Thread

[Tomo 21,751]

I have just had a look through the AVB sacked thread and some of the stuff i read from that day (including post's from myself) was cringeworthy. You would have thought that would have taught us to trust the owner.

[Rmpr 8,977]

It is ridiculous that you think that this treatment will somehow affect the morale of our players, either directly or indirectly, because they fucking know that they're not the ones that we're pissed off at.

You can try to make the point that Roman`s decisions are Roman`s decisions & ultimately we all just have to deal with that. But he simply cannot get away with undermining our clubs very own integrity & morals by appointing the most despised Spaniard on Fulham Road as our manager. Not without being made fully aware of the consequences.

Great post mate!

I agree with everything you just said, except the lines I quoted.

Like I said many times, we dont need to back the manager in order to support the team. However, the booing inside our own stadium can only harm the team. It does affect the players mentality (even if they know it is not directed to them). They can start ignoring Benitez or they can feel uncomfortable, opponents might get excited, etc. Anything that might be harmful to the team I am totally against.

About Roman, he has his problems and he did not respected the fans in some events (Wilkins and Benitez), but that is about it. No Board from a big Club actually cares about the fans, just like no manager listens to the fans. Abramovich thinks solely about the capacity and performance and if we look carefully at the facts, it was the best decision. I vahe a very angry feeling about RDM treatment and he will always be a legend, but he was indeed making some amateurs mistakes. I personally think he would thrive with proper time. It was very wrong (specially because there was nobody on the market), but we cant go back in time.

I find it stupid to want him out (I dont know how you feel about it). We definetly dont have to agree with him, although, he is still better than any other owner we would get.

EDIT: I have come to understand the booing now that I have talked to some hardcore fans, but I still wouldnt do it.

[Lav 9]

This is all going to end with The Fat One and Torres out of here. Watch.

[super_frank8 186]

@super_frank8, I was making the point theat Kez made about the owner not giving a fuck what we think, which is why i put it in inverted commers.

The end of the day he will do what he thinks is right for the club like you said whether that means agreeing with us or not, because if he listened to the majority off us in 2009, he would stayed well away from Carlo. Ultimately he will do what he thinks makes us successful and is quite often proven to be right, who was prepared to give AVB more time? well in hindsight if he did he would have cost us the CL.

'

Mate, you still just don't get it do you? It has NOTHING to do with who he sacked or why he sacked him. It is EVERYTHING to do with who he hired - & that is not based on his ability as a manager - but value as an individual person. I was never against Carlo coming to the Bridge, not by any means considering how atrocious Scolari was before Hiddink took over & saved our arses. & of course I wanted Hiddink in the job just like everyone else did, but it was simply not possible at the time & I was perfectly fine with that considering the calibre & integrity of the replacement.

Ancelotti was/is not only a great manager with a proven track record - but he also didn't tell us to stop waving our 'plastic flags' & how 'passionless' the 40,000 strong crowd that show up to Stamford Bridge every week are. He did not insult this club, our players & our fans the way Benitez has. That is all it comes down to, so stop trying to act as if we're all just butthurt by RDM's departure. The reason we are so offended by the decision is because he was replaced by a lesser manager - & more importantly a lesser man.

& as for AVB? I don't know about the rest of you...but I wanted him out within the first 10-12 games. The man was clueless (or more kindly 'misguided') in his tactical approach & showed zero respect to our legends when it was clear that they were needed more than ever as his reign spiralled into oblivion. So no, I didn't want to give him more time or patience; I honestly wish he was given far less. In fact in hindsight, since you mention it - imagine if he had been sacked at this time last year - we may have just gone on to win the treble.

[Henrique 9,133]

I'm going to refer to Rafa as the fat one, in a light hearted manner of course. I'm bored of the Rafa protests already. I was pissed off when he got the job but I'm over it now, Roman doesn't actually give one tiny fuck what the fans think he's clearly shown that.

I actually think we're going to have a good season either way though you know he'll be gone in 6 months so just grin and bare it!

I fact there is no big club in the world that give one tiny fuck about what the fans think. Football is about winning, at the end of the day, when you watch your club playing, you are thinking about winning. The board and the owner should do what they think is right to make the club more succesful, RDM wasnt because of his poor management skills.

I used to believe he was going to do a good job, but that was more a wishfull thinking than anything. I fact RDM is far way from being a good manager, some people might say "he gave Chelsea a UCL", well, only I fool would credit last season glory to the italian under those circunstances. I bet you dont believe Grant was the one responsible for the first UCL final in Chelsea's history;

RDM was sacked by West Bronwich because the team were in the relegation zone, after he was fired they end up in a 11th position. s said before, RDM was Chelsea's Kenny Dalglish, if you know what I mean.

I'm sure the results and the football will improve under Benitez, specially the pathetic defence we had under RDM this season, actually I think it will be interesing to see the fans reactions if Benitez win a double (FA Cup + PL), and Roman decide that he has to leave.

[Tomo 21,751]

'

Mate, you still just don't get it do you? It has NOTHING to do with who he sacked or why he sacked him. It is EVERYTHING to do with who he hired - & that is not based on his ability as a manager - but value as an individual person. I was never against Carlo coming to the Bridge, not by any means considering how atrocious Scolari was before Hiddink took over & saved our arses. & of course I wanted Hiddink in the job just like everyone else did, but it was simply not possible at the time & I was perfectly fine with that considering the calibre & integrity of the replacement.

Ancelotti was/is not only a great manager with a proven track record - but he also didn't tell us to stop waving our 'plastic flags' & how 'passionless' the 40,000 strong crowd that show up to Stamford Bridge every week are. He did not insult this club, our players & our fans the way Benitez has. That is all it comes down to, so stop trying to act as if we're all just butthurt by RDM's departure. The reason we are so offended by the decision is because he was replaced by a lesser manager - & more importantly a lesser man.

& as for AVB? I don't know about the rest of you...but I wanted him out within the first 10-12 games. The man was clueless (or more kindly 'misguided') in his tactical approach & showed zero respect to our legends when it was clear that they were needed more than ever as his reign spiralled into oblivion. So no, I didn't want to give him more time or patience; I honestly wish he was given far less. In fact in hindsight, since you mention it - imagine if he had been sacked at this time last year - we may have just gone on to win the treble.

No one but hurt by RDM's sacking? you sure? some of the knee jerk comments i saw bashing Roman was ridiculous.

The point i was trying to make about Ancelotti is his arrival caused a mixed reaction, ok not to the same extent as Rafa, but not many wanted him here, his league record at Milan was putting a lot of people off and if you want me to find a blog or forum comments to prove that ill try and do so. If Roman respected the fans wishes in that scnereo then he would have looked elsewhere, meaning no double. My initial post was the previous post about Roman not "respecting" the fans view's and i was just pointing out that has happened in the past and turned out to be the right decision.

[super_frank8 186]

No one but hurt by RDM's sacking? you sure? some of the knee jerk comments i saw bashing Roman was ridiculous.

The point i was trying to make about Ancelotti is his arrival caused a mixed reaction, ok not to the same extent as Rafa, but not many wanted him here, his league record at Milan was putting a lot of people off and if you want me to find a blog or forum comments to prove that ill try and do so. If Roman respected the fans wishes in that scnereo then he would have looked elsewhere, meaning no double. My initial post was the previous post about Roman not "respecting" the fans view's and i was just pointing out that has happened in the past and turned out to be the right decision.

Of course I am upset by RDM going, but I can also at the same time understand why Roman did it - & therefore I can accept that decision, even if I don't agree with it. I mean to say that we don't want Rafa out just because we want RDM back in. It is the mere presence of Rafa whatsoever that is the issue; it really could have been just about anyone else - even Harry Redknapp - & they would not have suffered a miniscule of the backlash that Rafa has & is going to until he crawls back into the hole he dragged his fat arse out of.

It's really not the same as the Ancelotti situation whatsoever because Carlo had never gone to the press & made a personally offensive retort regarding Chelsea Football Club - let alone numerous ones. That was just typical skepticism for a new foreign manager & his abilities as a manager. As a person, I don't believe anyone was questioning his morals nor offended by anything he had said in the past that was directly derogatory towards our club, players or fans. Roman may not have listened to or respected the fans wishes in that decision, & I certainly don't expect him to let us dictate his choices by any means - but at least he didn't outright insult us the way that this appointment irrevocably has done. So once again the issue at hand seems to be eluding you entirely...for reasons that I am really struggling to deduce right now to be perfectly honest...

[super_frank8 186]

Great post mate!

I agree with everything you just said, except the lines I quoted.

Like I said many times, we dont need to back the manager in order to support the team. However, the booing inside our own stadium can only harm the team. It does affect the players mentality (even if they know it is not directed to them). They can start ignoring Benitez or they can feel uncomfortable, opponents might get excited, etc. Anything that might be harmful to the team I am totally against.

About Roman, he has his problems and he did not respected the fans in some events (Wilkins and Benitez), but that is about it. No Board from a big Club actually cares about the fans, just like no manager listens to the fans. Abramovich thinks solely about the capacity and performance and if we look carefully at the facts, it was the best decision. I vahe a very angry feeling about RDM treatment and he will always be a legend, but he was indeed making some amateurs mistakes. I personally think he would thrive with proper time. It was very wrong (specially because there was nobody on the market), but we cant go back in time.

I find it stupid to want him out (I dont know how you feel about it). We definetly dont have to agree with him, although, he is still better than any other owner we would get.

Fair enough if you truly believe that the players are affected by such things. Personally, I know that deep down they really couldn't give half a shit about the fat cunt who is their new manager & are going to play for the fans no matter what - they are paid extortionate sums of money & worshipped globally as heroes to do just that. In fact, if anything it may just get them to step up their game. But they most definitely are not going to be offended by the crowd calling for the fat spanish waiter's head on a platter. Not when they have no such existing nor potential future relationship of any genuine value with him.

& I really don't understand why you think I want Roman out? He's made a poor decision & we as the fans are making him fully aware of it - but he is nevertheless the best thing that has happened to this club without a doubt. I love the guy for elevating us to the next level & almost single-handedly transforming us into the true trophy-winning dominant global phenomenon that we are today. He's the owner every club wishes they had. & I certainly don't believe he should have to cave to our every demand - he is the owner after all, & the owner does what he likes. In fact I actually quite admire his cold, calculated ruthlessness to an extent - he's got guts & sticks by his guns. However, that can also be his downfall as has been shown with Torres, Sheva, Mourinho, etc. & when he appoints a manager who is so blatantly & undeniably despised by almost everyone associated with the club - especially those who shell out ridiculous amounts of money to attend every game & purchase the jerseys of their heroes - he really does have to consider the fans since it is only through them that he is able to run a profitable business & football club in the first place. No matter how well off he may be - without us he wouldn't actually be able to successfully operate a football club as a business unless his only goal is to lose money because he's bored of having so much of it.

Therefore I simply find it impossible to believe that he doesn't care about the entirety of Stamford Bridge being in complete & utter uproar & disrepute because of a quite frankly unthinkable decision on his part. Pretty sure it's a little hard to ignore when there are 40,000 people shouting at the top of their lungs in a relatively enclosed area with little other background noise - so he definitely heard it. We don't want him to leave - to quite the contrary, we want him to recognise & rectify this unconscionable mistake so that we don't need to continue hounding him about it anymore than we have to. I guess we'll have to wait & see to find out if he really 'cares'.

[Yasser 63]

the past is past, look .. :

but NOW .. :

[kellzfresh 7,229]

i hope all CFC fans read this!

Why the "Rafa Out" movement is the height of stupidity.

There will always be criticism no matter how we handled the situation.

First case: Chelsea fans booed no one on Sunday.

Reaction: "You passionless plastics. A club legend is chucked out on his arse and you just sit there and clap politely. You're nothing but a billionaire's playthings. Pathetic."

Second case: Chelsea fans booed Benitez on Sunday.

Reaction: "You classless mugs, booing your own manager. Of course you'll never question the guy who brought him in - go grovel at Roman's feet like you always do, you utter jokes. Pathetic."

Third case: Chelsea fans booed Abramovich on Sunday.

Reaction: "You ungrateful spoilt brats. You'd be nowhere without this guy and now you're throwing your toys out of the pram. I hope Roman ditches you and your classless club goes bankrupt. Pathetic."

Like it wasn't already obvious...haters gonna

hate.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Now this is where I don't understand so many of you constantly going back to the same nonsensical raptures of 'we're not supporting the team if we're not supporting Rafa'

Let me ask you something...

How many times have you actually gone & sat/stood in the crowd at The Bridge?

At a guess, more times than you. If you really want a dick measuring contest, go elsewhere.

You say Rafa isn't part of the team - I disagree. He is the coach now, ergo he is part of the team. That doesn't mean I like him or even enjoy the fact he's at the club.

But the fact is he is at the club and for my club to prosper I need him to do a good job. That's why he has my support, begrudging at is may be.

You say it's ridiculous to think it will affect the morale of the players - I disagree. I've been part of many great crowds at the Bridge (and away) and I've seen and felt the effect it has, kicking the players on into a higher gear. I've also been part of some pretty shit ones where it was so quiet you could hear the players shouting to one another on the pitch from the middle tier. Creating an atmosphere that is pretty toxic isn't going to help them, and it isn't going to help Rafa when he has to get them listening to him in training on a shitty Monday morning.

I've already said I understood why the fans were angry - I was too at first. But I don't see the upside in being negative going forward. The board got the message - the board knew the message way before he was hired but they went forward because they thought it was best for the club.

If people really want to keep booing then that's their prerogative. But at the game on Sunday I wasn't one of them. I sang my heart out for Robbie because he deserved it. But I'm not going to boo our manager when he's trying to get our team to win.

[Yasser 63]

Third case: Chelsea fans booed Abramovich on Sunday.

i don't said booing Abramovich! all what i said is the man who went and display the contract to Rafa is Abramovich!! Rafa as a professional see the contract liked and agree and take it!

[super_frank8 186]

At a guess, more times than you. If you really want a dick measuring contest, go elsewhere.

You say Rafa isn't part of the team - I disagree. He is the coach now, ergo he is part of the team. That doesn't mean I like him or even enjoy the fact he's at the club.

But the fact is he is at the club and for my club to prosper I need him to do a good job. That's why he has my support, begrudging at is may be.

You say it's ridiculous to think it will affect the morale of the players - I disagree. I've been part of many great crowds at the Bridge (and away) and I've seen and felt the effect it has, kicking the players on into a higher gear. I've also been part of some pretty shit ones where it was so quiet you could hear the players shouting to one another on the pitch from the middle tier. Creating an atmosphere that is pretty toxic isn't going to help them, and it isn't going to help Rafa when he has to get them listening to him in training on a shitty Monday morning.

I've already said I understood why the fans were angry - I was too at first. But I don't see the upside in being negative going forward. The board got the message - the board knew the message way before he was hired but they went forward because they thought it was best for the club.

If people really want to keep booing then that's their prerogative. But at the game on Sunday I wasn't one of them. I sang my heart out for Robbie because he deserved it. But I'm not going to boo our manager when he's trying to get our team to win.

I think you rather misinterpreted that rhetorical query that I posed - I was actually attempting to make a point regarding the nature of being in the crowd & the right to express yourself & your beliefs as a fan - as opposed to requesting this 'dick measuring contest' that you speak of. I'm not judging anyone's support purely by whether they attend live matches or not; that is simply ignorant & petty.

However, I do expect those who have been present in the stands, who have learnt the songs, who have ensured that you can hear them cheering for their heroes on the moon & beyond - to actually understand a fan's undefiable urge to let everyone else hear their voice loud & clear so they know just exactly what is on their mind - especially when everyone around them is feeling the exact same thing. That is the kind of unity that gives me that indescribable sense of pride & adoration for the club that I love, as well as the invaluable camaraderie of my fellow supporters around me who comprehend & relate to it on the same level. It's what makes me feel 'at home' - as cheesy as that may sound. Every single person in that stadium on a matchday has the given right to let the joy & jubilation as well as the pain & anguish in their heart be known to the rest of the world.

Therefore making all of those at the game as well as those watching from their living rooms more than aware of their displeasure with the appointment of a fat fuck who does not deserve a single miniscule of respect from anyone who deems themselves 'Chelsea through-&-through' - is 100% justified. Personally what I believe is in fact fully unjustified, is individuals such as yourself declaring that they are not supporting the team purely because they have the integrity to stand up for the club they love. You clearly don't realise that these fans aren't just singing for themselves purely to spite Rafa/Abramovich/for the fun of it; they are singing for the millions of supporters from all corners of the globe that feel exactly the same way & wish more than anything that they could be at the game to join them in making it abundantly clear how much of a mistake this is & how pissed off they are about it - & inflict enough of an influence to catalyse change. Ultimately all in the hope of the possibility of our owner actually acknowledging this & choosing to rectify the situation.

But yes, since you have in fact been part of the crowd at many games both home & away, just as I am sure many of us on this forum have done (dick measuring contest anyone?) - then surely at some point or another you have waved your 'plastic flag' with pride & sung with every single bit of passion that your heart endears you to? By all means correct me if I am misled in my beliefs; but when I say that I'll keep the blue flag flying high, I definitely fucking mean it. Maybe this kind of stuff is completely arbitrary to you, but for fans like me it's not. Not by a long shot.

So when a certain Rafa Benitez decides to call YOU out personally on YOUR support for the club that YOU love - it is not forgiven anywhere near as easily as you seem to be comfortable with doing. & for most of us, it never will be whatsoever - regardless of the results or trophies that he obtains. He does not deserve the honour, nor the prestige, of managing our team; let alone being collectively included as a part of it. That is a title reserved for true legends like Mourinho & Di Matteo - & at the very least good men who have never gone out of their way to directly insult the players or fans or club as he has done in such a gloriously cuntish manner.

& still you continue in failing to recognise the distinction between the manager & the team. When I speak of the team, I am generally broadly speaking about the players (& the club that they represent) - only when a manager reacts to every goal & injustice the exact same way you & the players do - when you can clearly see that he cares about what happens on the field just as much as those around him - is he truly worthy of being recognised as part of the team. & when Benitez is a manager who makes it part of his job to intentionally distance himself from the dressing room & any kind of genuine relationship with the players, he is as far from that as humanly possible.

When Mourinho was manager, when Di Matteo was manager, when Hiddink was manager, when Ancelotti was manager - you could see that the players were playing for them as well as the fans - because they inspired & invested themselves in the team, sharing every bit of joy & heartbreak together as one - & elevated the players as a result of that. They showed that they cared, because they genuinely did; the players knew it & the fans knew it. Jose going absolutely mental in a sequence of sheer jubilation & manic fist pumping before sliding down the touchline on his knees in a 6000 quid Armani suit - you will never see Rafa do that; & there is a reason why.

They aren't playing for him mate, they are playing for us - & if we achieve anything worthwhile this season, it is going to be down to their resolve & their will to win - not because some fat Spanish waiter inspired them to do so.

[Yasser 63]

from the press conference Rafa said : " Now Chelsea is my club, so I have to defend my club "

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

He seems to be saying the right things in the press conferences, from which you can tell he's obsessed with detail, organisation, attitude and commitment. I think i'm at the stage of 'optimistic acceptance' with him now.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I think you rather misinterpreted that rhetorical query that I posed - I was actually attempting to make a point regarding the nature of being in the crowd & the right to express yourself & your beliefs as a fan - as opposed to requesting this 'dick measuring contest' that you speak of. I'm not judging anyone's support purely by whether they attend live matches or not; that is simply ignorant & petty.

However, I do expect those who have been present in the stands, who have learnt the songs, who have ensured that you can hear them cheering for their heroes on the moon & beyond - to actually understand a fan's undefiable urge to let everyone else hear their voice loud & clear so they know just exactly what is on their mind - especially when everyone around them is feeling the exact same thing. That is the kind of unity that gives me that indescribable sense of pride & adoration for the club that I love, as well as the invaluable camaraderie of my fellow supporters around me who comprehend & relate to it on the same level. It's what makes me feel 'at home' - as cheesy as that may sound. Every single person in that stadium on a matchday has the given right to let the joy & jubilation as well as the pain & anguish in their heart be known to the rest of the world.

Therefore making all of those at the game as well as those watching from their living rooms more than aware of their displeasure with the appointment of a fat fuck who does not deserve a single miniscule of respect from anyone who deems themselves 'Chelsea through-&-through' - is 100% justified. Personally what I believe is in fact fully unjustified, is individuals such as yourself declaring that they are not supporting the team purely because they have the integrity to stand up for the club they love. You clearly don't realise that these fans aren't just singing for themselves purely to spite Rafa/Abramovich/for the fun of it; they are singing for the millions of supporters from all corners of the globe that feel exactly the same way & wish more than anything that they could be at the game to join them in making it abundantly clear how much of a mistake this is & how pissed off they are about it - & inflict enough of an influence to catalyse change. Ultimately all in the hope of the possibility of our owner actually acknowledging this & choosing to rectify the situation.

But yes, since you have in fact been part of the crowd at many games both home & away, just as I am sure many of us on this forum have done (dick measuring contest anyone?) - then surely at some point or another you have waved your 'plastic flag' with pride & sung with every single bit of passion that your heart endears you to? By all means correct me if I am misled in my beliefs; but when I say that I'll keep the blue flag flying high, I definitely fucking mean it. Maybe this kind of stuff is completely arbitrary to you, but for fans like me it's not. Not by a long shot.

So when a certain Rafa Benitez decides to call YOU out personally on YOUR support for the club that YOU love - it is not forgiven anywhere near as easily as you seem to be comfortable with doing. & for most of us, it never will be whatsoever - regardless of the results or trophies that he obtains. He does not deserve the honour, nor the prestige, of managing our team; let alone being collectively included as a part of it. That is a title reserved for true legends like Mourinho & Di Matteo - & at the very least good men who have never gone out of their way to directly insult the players or fans or club as he has done in such a gloriously cuntish manner.

& still you continue in failing to recognise the distinction between the manager & the team. When I speak of the team, I am generally broadly speaking about the players (& the club that they represent) - only when a manager reacts to every goal & injustice the exact same way you & the players do - when you can clearly see that he cares about what happens on the field just as much as those around him - is he truly worthy of being recognised as part of the team. & when Benitez is a manager who makes it part of his job to intentionally distance himself from the dressing room & any kind of genuine relationship with the players, he is as far from that as humanly possible.

When Mourinho was manager, when Di Matteo was manager, when Hiddink was manager, when Ancelotti was manager - you could see that the players were playing for them as well as the fans - because they inspired & invested themselves in the team, sharing every bit of joy & heartbreak together as one - & elevated the players as a result of that. They showed that they cared, because they genuinely did; the players knew it & the fans knew it. Jose going absolutely mental in a sequence of sheer jubilation & manic fist pumping before sliding down the touchline on his knees in a 6000 quid Armani suit - you will never see Rafa do that; & there is a reason why.

They aren't playing for him mate, they are playing for us - & if we achieve anything worthwhile this season, it is going to be down to their resolve & their will to win - not because some fat Spanish waiter inspired them to do so.

We all support the team i different ways and have different views on this appointment. I wasn't happy, but I'm past it. Now I just want to see the team put itself in the best position possible for next season, and I believe Benitez will be integral to that.

You bring up the fact that he slagged us off in the past. So fucking what? That was his job, to gain a competitive edge for his team in whatever manner possible and if that meant giving his own fans a hard on by slagging us off then so be it. I can let a few words slide for the sake of getting behind my team and yes, my team's coach. That's what he is.

That shit thing where we appoint Benitez....it happened. It ain't going to change if I boo loud enough. I'd rather sing the songs that I've been singing for the past 20 years in support of my club, home and away rather than booing a guy who for better or worse is going to be one of the deciding factors in the FUTURE of this club.

And here's the little secret that no-one in the media is reporting - not every fan was booing. Not every fan was holding up little signs or banners and not every fan was abusing him at every opportunity. I don't know what you saw on tv, but 40,000 fans weren't chanting abuse for 90 minutes. Sorry to burst your bubble.

And if you think it will force Roman to 'rectify' the situation then you're really in for a disappointment because in his mind appointing Rafa Benitez IS rectifying the situation. But yeah, you hold on to the anger from a manager of another team saying rude things about a competitor. Me, I'm going to support the team in my way and if that isn't the way that a few of the millions of our fans around the world want me to support my team then they can kiss my ass if they every actually make their way to a football match at the Bridge.

[Shane 2,275]

from the press conference Rafa said : " Now Chelsea is my club, so I have to defend my club "

Makes me sick.

[poojam 10]

Who is The Biggest Legend To Chelsea. ''Roberto Di Matteo'' or ''Roman Abramovich'' ?

[Heisenberg 1,824]

Clearly Roman ,but you cant compare a player to an owner.

[Tomo 21,751]

When Mourinho was manager, when Di Matteo was manager, when Hiddink was manager, when Ancelotti was manager - you could see that the players were playing for them as well as the fans - because they inspired & invested themselves in the team, sharing every bit of joy & heartbreak together as one - & elevated the players as a result of that. They showed that they cared, because they genuinely did; the players knew it & the fans knew it. Jose going absolutely mental in a sequence of sheer jubilation & manic fist pumping before sliding down the touchline on his knees in a 6000 quid Armani suit - you will never see Rafa do that; & there is a reason why.

They aren't playing for him mate, they are playing for us - & if we achieve anything worthwhile this season, it is going to be down to their resolve & their will to win - not because some fat Spanish waiter inspired them to do so.

To be fair Benitez has never been a manager for showing his emotions. Not even at Liverpool.