What next for Rafa Benitez?

When this 52-year-old Spaniard entered the glittering Stamford Bridge on a sultry November evening, an extremely hostile reception welcomed him, despite his successful tenure at Liverpool. Driven by incessant boos and hostility, Rafa Benitez had put himself in a precarious situation, and worse was to come.

Yet, every time he plays with his blue tie, he manages to put up a brave face in times of extreme adversity. Whether it’s the ‘home’ fans giving him stick and demanding his immediate exclusion from the managerial post or being booed by rival fans, Benitez landed himself in the middle of a storm armed with only a submerged boat. So, whatever the results may be in the coming thirteen days which see Chelsea play six games, it’s the summer of 2013 that eventually matters for this Spaniard. As his torrid time finally ends, and the ‘interim’ title is removed, one question remains for his many faithful fans and the man himself – what next for Rafa Benitez?

A well established manager who finds himself on the wrong side of jokes, Benitez still remains someone who has garnered three different trophies, apart from others which he has won, in three different countries. The last manager to have won a League title in Spain, after overshadowing Barca and Real, with Valencia is something which only a handful of other managers can boast about. Having said that, he will find himself at the cross roads come this summer. For someone who loves media attention and hogs the limelight wherever he goes, it’s sad when there is a lot of negative criticism directed towards him. Many fail to see him as a great planner, a genius at plotting strategies and an individual who believes in his own methods of coaching his team. Rafa is not someone who will take up a ‘small’ club for fat pay-cheques, nor someone who wants to be out of work for long. But he will find himself facing the moment of truth in the summer of 2013.

Previous spells with Inter and now Chelsea can easily be branded disastrous, but for someone who wants to be competitive and fight for trophies, he surely has to now go back to square one. His reputation has also taken a beating, albeit the circumstances and the ignominy he has faced recently can only make him tougher. I have always felt Benitez at Inter was more of a victim of circumstances but critics have branded it a complete failure. The team he inherited was still suffering from the hangover of basking in the glorious treble they had mustered the previous season, which included the amazing UEFA Champions League triumph. Thus, unsurprisingly, they were short on motivation and to make things worse, Rafa was on the wrong side of the owner who wouldn’t wilt to his demands. Despite the precarious circumstances, Inter won a creditable World Club Championship, which Alex Ferguson unsurprisingly termed it lucky. It’s understandable given the Scot’s smooth relationship with the Portugese Jose Mourinho who had overseen Inter’s treble glory before eventually shifting to Spanish giants Real Madrid. However, if Ferguson was to be interviewed about why Inter haven’t won a piece of silverware since Benitez’s unceremonious sacking, wouldn’t he run for cover and avoid the media like he sometimes does, showing glaring naivety? The same theory stands for Liverpool as well who have only the Carling Cup to boast of ever since Benitez’s tenure at Merseyside came to a screeching halt.

At Chelsea as well, Benitez took charge of a small squad which had been driven to exhaustion by Roberto Di Matteo who played the same team week in and week out. Chelsea were very lucky. Otherwise, which theory could justify their unheralded crashing out of the group stages itself in the very competition they had achieved pinnacles of glory the previous season? With an extremely thin squad which had played the most games in all of Europe, it’s childish to expect the team to win every-time Benitez appears on the touchline shouting instructions.

It’s quite abominable that the overhyped British media takes a dig at Benitez every time he makes a slight mistake. It’s the same media which shows extreme signs of immaturity in blaring out made up praises when the Spaniard does come up with match changing decisions. I’ve even read an article saying he won’t ever get to manage a top tier club in England anymore, but to say that is being extremely disrespectful, given Benitez’s immaculate international CV. Even David Moyes, who hasn’t won silverware in his eleven years of charge of the Toffees, gets praise from the media. The same can be said about Arsene Wenger whose Arsenal side also doesn’t have a trophy to boast of in the last seven years. But when it comes to Rafa Benitez, there is too much of negative talk and how he won’t ever be a successful manager.

So really, what next for Mr. Benitez? For anyone who has followed the Spaniard would surely believe his methods are suited for the long run. At Valencia, he won the League title twice, thus squashing theories that said it was a fluke. He effectively used the 4-2-3-1 system flawlessly and managed to grind out numerous 1-0 wins, even when things looked bleak. At Liverpool too, he had the insight as well the farsightedness to inject a brand of world beaters. His Liverpool side played fearless football in Europe and could match anyone on any given day. Rafa almost won the Reds their much wanted and coveted Premier League, falling short only by four points.

Andy Gray, the celebrated commentator, might have made his personal agenda in undermining Rafa ‘s every move from transfers to zonal defending during the latter’s tenure at the Merseyside Giants, but he is engulfed in his own theory. Under Benitez, Pepe Reina became the fastest Liverpool goalkeeper to keep 100 clean sheets in the league. To have achieved that in this era of the EPL is more than impressive, given the attacking prowess of the other 19 teams.

Rafa, in my opinion, should look to Valencia once again, who now struggle in the league to fight against the top teams and hover around fifth and sixth places in the Liga BBVA table. He is already a fan favourite and can start rebuilding the team with his tactical acumen. He has the capability to build the squad if given time. With a lot of freedom to completely express himself and his mode of approach, he might also be able recreate and reincarnate the Valencia of his earlier term. Also, his shrewdness in the transfer market and the scouting network he has at his disposal, it might just be the perfect combination for a team in transition like Valencia, if given a chance.

Moreover, Benitez is a reputed figure in his homeland and has enough in his armoury to attract big names, but it would be best for him to start at a fighting club rather than sign on the dotted lines of a major team that want quick results. His way of coaching might also not go down well with players as he is a tremendous professional. He also doesn’t entertain questions regarding his own family which shows signs of the strict professional he has blended within himself. Having said that, people will feel that it is tough to bring out the best if you are not friends with your players, but Rafa knows what he does and is clearly focused to continue in his own way.

With the frowns on the Spaniard’s face growing curvier day by day; it will be time for a major judgement this summer. A potential make or break summer for a suave, sophisticated and a tactical genius, who will for now travel the labyrinth of Stamford Bridge where the boos will still be ringing. After all, it isn’t easy being a manager, is it?