Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard opens up about 'frosty' relationship with Rafael Benitez

13.09.2015 19:20

Evening Standard

Football Football Liverpool Sport tom dutton

Steven Gerrard has revealed he and Rafael Benitez shared a 'frosty' relationship during the Spaniard's reign at Liverpool.

Gerrard captained the Reds to Champions League triumph under Benitez in 2005, but has written in his new book 'My Story', which is being serialised by the Daily Mail, about his struggle to form a bond with the now Real Madrid manager.

The 34-year-old, who is now at LA Galaxy after allowing his Liverpool contract to run down last season, feels the mismatch impacted positively on his playing career because he worked harder in a bid to win the manager's favour.

"I can pick up the phone and speak to all of my previous Liverpool managers. Except for Rafa," Gerrard wrote.

"It's a shame because we probably shared the biggest night of both our careers - the 2005 Champions League victory in Istanbul - and yet there is no bond between us.

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1/24 David de Gea: 7

There must have been times in the first half where that new contract seemed like a dreadful mistake. On the rare occasions when Liverpool made it to his goal he was unbeatable.
2/24 Matteo Darmian: 6

A dependable presence given little to put him out of his comfort zone thanks to Danny Ings. One early cross aside he lacked his usual reliability going forward.
3/24 Chris Smalling: 6

Had no problem dealing with a static Christian Benteke, effectively marshalling the backline against a barely existent threat.
4/24 Daley Blind: 8

Dealt intelligently with the threat of Benteke, letting the striker win the first ball and preparing for the knock downs. The best player on the pitch deserved his goal.
5/24 Luke Shaw: 6

Continued his good form of this season without ever threatening to hit his best. However his willingness to go forward seriously compromised Liverpool’s attacking game, dragging Firmino back.
6/24 Michael Carrick: 6

Unerringly capable of finding a sideways pass to slow down the attack. The England international was fine, nothing more, nothing less.
7/24 Bastian Schweinsteiger: 5

The new signing has needed little encouragement to play at half-speed so far this season, but he took all he could get. With Liverpool defending in numbers he should have brought creativity, he did not.
8/24 Juan Mata: 6

A smart assist for Blind capped a much improved second half from the Spaniard, who grew in confidence as the burden fell on him to create chances.
9/24 Ander Herrera: 7

Another to turn around a desperately poor first half, passing the ball with much greater pace and looking to get into good positions. Dispatched his penalty quite excellently.
10/24 Memphis Depay: 6

The only United midfielder to attack with anything verging on incision in the first half. He may have given the ball away but at least he was trying to force the issue. Van Gaal made the wrong call removing him.
11/24 Marouane Fellaini: 5

If he is United’s second choice striker supporters should be desperately concerned. The target man could scarcely even control the ball in the first half and failed to profit from desperately poor defending.
12/24 Ashley Young: 6

His introduction brought some attacking endeavour to a desperately dull game, winning the free-kick for the opener.
13/24 Anthony Martial: 7

A truly brilliant goal marked what was quite the introduction for the Frenchman, who looked bright throughout his 25 minutes on the pitch.
14/24 Simon Mignolet: 4

Set the tone for Liverpool’s defensive display early on. That tone was mass panic. Passing the ball out of defence is good, but try to pass it to your team-mates.
15/24 Nathaniel Clyne: 5

Struggled with the drive and incision of Memphis and Young, making the England right-back reluctant to join in with the attack.
16/24 Martin Skrtel: 5

Another defender with a crippling case of nerves early on – he won more headers as the match wore on but never seemed to settle.
17/24 Dejan Lovren: 4

Did his best to make Fellaini look like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, his confidence looks crippled once more and he seemed a liability throughout.
18/24 Joe Gomez: 4

Seemed to have avoided the collective meltdown of his colleagues in the first half, only to then doom his team to defeat by giving away the most moronic of penalties.
19/24 Emre Can: 5

A sloppy display from the midfielder, whose first touch deserted him. Passing to a clearly offside Benteke on a rare forward burst capped off a desperately poor performance.
20/24 Lucas Leiva: 5

Tackled well and did a fine job of screening the backline, getting stuck in when United came forward. Did not deserve to be surrounded by such gross inadequacy.
21/24 James Milner: 4

Mr Reliable was reliably poor from minute one to minute 90. He gave the ball away far too often.
22/24 Roberto Firmino: 5

A far from adequate replacement for Coutinho, he spent the majority of the game on the back-foot thanks to Shaw’s attacking thrust.
23/24 Danny Ings: 4

Simply put, he is not good enough for a role in a top-eight side. He showed willingness and commitment but not once did he show creativity or incision.
24/24 Christian Benteke - 5

A magnificent bicycle kick briefly brought the game to life, but it scarcely made up for a poor display where the striker did not look to expose Blind’s weaknesses.

"At press conferences he might call other players by their first name but I was always 'Gerrard'. It was the same in the dressing room. He would read out the team and use nicknames. But, for me, it would just be 'Gerrard'.

"Our working relationship was ultra-professional and his frostiness drove me to become a better player. I had a hunger to earn a compliment from him - but also a hunger to let him know he really needed me as a player."

ArticleGerrard opens up about 'frosty' former Liverpool boss BenitezLiverpool FCFormer Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard opens up about 'frosty' relationship with Rafael BenitezPublishedImageMedium width0Sunday, September 13, 2015 - 17:20Ultra-professional: Benitez's 'frostiness' made Gerrard hungrierOn

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Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard opens up about 'frosty' relationship with Rafael Benitez

1/24 David de Gea: 7

2/24 Matteo Darmian: 6

3/24 Chris Smalling: 6

4/24 Daley Blind: 8

5/24 Luke Shaw: 6

6/24 Michael Carrick: 6

7/24 Bastian Schweinsteiger: 5

8/24 Juan Mata: 6

9/24 Ander Herrera: 7

10/24 Memphis Depay: 6

11/24 Marouane Fellaini: 5

12/24 Ashley Young: 6

13/24 Anthony Martial: 7

14/24 Simon Mignolet: 4

15/24 Nathaniel Clyne: 5

16/24 Martin Skrtel: 5

17/24 Dejan Lovren: 4

18/24 Joe Gomez: 4

19/24 Emre Can: 5

20/24 Lucas Leiva: 5

21/24 James Milner: 4

22/24 Roberto Firmino: 5

23/24 Danny Ings: 4

24/24 Christian Benteke - 5

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