「神奇隊長」謝拉特：賓尼迪斯將重返英超！

前利物浦「神奇隊長」、現效力美國職業聯盟球隊洛杉磯銀河的謝拉特 (Steven Gerrard) 日前接受英國媒體 "skysports" 訪問時表示，他相信早前被皇家馬德里解僱的前「紅軍」領隊賓尼迪斯 (Rafael Benitez)，在不久的將來將會重返英超執教。
謝拉特曾經於2004至2010年期間與賓尼迪斯合作，兩人為球隊嬴得2004/05球季的歐聯冠軍及2005/06球季的足總盃冠軍。但賓尼迪斯在皇馬只執教了短短的25場賽事就已經被球會管理層辭退，並由前法國球星施丹(Zinedine Zidane) 取代。
這位洛杉磯銀河的中場球星在澳洲悉尼出戰利物浦傳奇球星賽前接受記者訪問，被問到認為賓尼迪斯會否回歸英超，謝拉特表示雖然他不敢肯定賓尼迪斯將有機會執教哪一支球隊，但他認為英超聯賽的形勢千變萬化，因此沒有任何一位領隊確保自己必定能夠保住帥位。

引用Asked if he could see Benitez back in England, Gerrard said: "I can. I don't know what club because you never know in the Premier League what clubs need a manager. But any club can need a manager at any time. It's a brutal business and clubs change their managers very quickly.

除此之外，「神奇隊長」謝拉特亦肯定賓尼迪斯的實力。他認為賓尼迪斯在皇馬的執教表現其實不錯，雖然如今被球隊解僱，但憑藉他的經驗及能力，相信不少的大球會都有意向他招手。

引用"I'm sad for Rafa because I thought he was doing a decent job at Madrid. But with the quality in his CV, I'm sure the big clubs around the world will be trying to get Rafa Benitez in because he's a wonderful manager."

早於上週，韋斯咸的班主蘇利雲 (David Sullivan) 亦表示，去年夏天賓尼迪斯與拿玻里的合約完結後，球隊幾乎與他簽下合約。只是在簽約的數小時前，因為皇馬的介入而最終未能成事。
而 "skysports" 的知名記者巴拉基 (Guillem Balague) 認為，相比起西甲的皇馬，賓尼迪斯能夠在英超中有更好的發揮，而且他亦明顯希望回到英超聯賽之中。巴拉基指賓尼迪斯之前亦曾經與阿士東維拉和紐卡素兩支球隊討論合作的可能，這一切都顯示了他希望回到英超的想法。

引用Balague told Sky Sports: "Before he signed for Real Madrid he almost signed for West Ham, and I think he would have enjoyed West Ham much more. He wants to come to the Premier League, quite clearly... He has negotiated with Aston Villa in the past, Newcastle too. I don't think he will be in a rush, but his heart is absolutely in the Premier League."

對於皇家馬德里在如此短時間解僱賓尼迪斯，巴拉基指這是由於皇馬的球隊管理層希望在1月15日前完成解僱動作，以避免支付當初簽下的三年合約巨額，而如今他們只需要支付一年合約的金額。

引用"The reason they have sacked Benitez now is that after January 15 they would have had to pay him his full, three-year contract. Now they only have to pay him one year of his contract."

資料來源：skysports.com(1) skysports.com(2)