Ex-Liverpool defender says he ‘HATED’ Rafael Benitez for his 2005 Champions League last omission – revealing how the choice value him £200,000 and lacking out on the trophy parade too

A former Liverpool participant has blasted Rafa Benitez for the way the ex-Reds boss handled him within the run-up to the Reds’ Champions League last victory in 2005 – revealing that the Spaniard additionally value him £200,000. Liverpool’s well-known comeback victory in opposition to AC Milan in Istanbul has gone down in historical past as one of many biggest sporting comebacks ever. The Reds rotated a 3-0 deficit to beat the Serie A facet in probably the most dramatic of circumstances, but it surely was a bittersweet second for a number of of Liverpool’s gamers who have been omitted from the matchday squad for the ultimate by Benitez.  The Spaniard, who had joined Liverpool in 2004, had taken Liverpool on a superb run throughout the European event, with the Reds beating Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea on their solution to the ultimate. But for one ex-Liverpool star and boyhood fan of the membership, the best way that Benitez handled him within the lead-up to the ultimate was an ‘absolute shame’.  A former Liverpool participant has blasted ex-Reds boss Rafa Benitez, calling him a ‘coward’ Benitez guided Liverpool to a dramatic comeback victory within the 2005 Champions League last However one participant has hit out on the supervisor for the way he was handled within the build-up to the match

Talking on the Below the Cosh podcast, Stephen Warnock hit out at Benitez, after he had been withdrawn from the squad to play within the last, regardless of the supervisor having beforehand named him within the 18-man matchday staff. He had informed his household to guide aircraft tickets to Turkey, earlier than Pako Ayestaran rang him to ship the powerful information that the administration had made a mistake on the squad and that he was not included within the staff. Warnock subsequently referred to as Benitez a ‘f****** coward’ on the podcast for not calling him up personally. The 42-year-old, who hails from Ormskirk in Merseyside, had been named within the squads for all of Liverpool’s Champions League matches within the run-up to the ultimate – making 4 appearances throughout the event. ‘It was onerous for me as a result of I am a Liverpool fan, I grew up standing on the Kop and every thing. I assumed “I f***ing hate this staff, like what is going on on right here”. I used to be fuming, I used to be so indignant,’ he said on the Below The Cosh podcast. ‘I did not hate the staff, I hated Rafa. I sat there considering, “I am so blissful for the lads, however I am additionally p***ed off with the best way issues have performed out”.’ The defender, a graduate of the Liverpool academy, made 67 appearances throughout all competitions for the Reds, earlier than leaving the membership in 2007 for Blackburn Rovers. After rising via the ranks at Melwood, he would go on to be handed his Premier League debut by Benitez throughout a 1-1 draw in opposition to Tottenham in 2004. Warnock added that he had ‘large respect for the Spaniard’ for giving him his debut at his boyhood membership, but in addition revealed that the supervisor’s determination to omit him from the Champions League last squad noticed him miss out on an enormous sum of cash.  Stephen Warnock was omitted from the squad to play in Istanbul and blasted Benitez for the way it was dealt with  Warnock admitted his devastation after he had missed out on Liverpool’s open-top bus parade Benitez’s determination to omit Warnock had additionally value the participant an eye-watering £200,000 bonus He said that every participant within the 18-man squad for the ultimate would obtain a bonus of £200,000 if Liverpool received. If they’d misplaced, they might have nonetheless every pocketed a cool £100,000. The left-back flew out to look at his facet play but in addition claimed that he was compelled to look at the trophy parade round his residence metropolis on Sky Sports activities.  ‘I do not forget that night time simply going to mattress they usually stated, “proper, the aircraft leaves presently within the morning to go for the parade in Liverpool”. After which they modified it and stated, “all of the squad who have been concerned, the 18, and their wives or girlfriends.”‘In order that they put all them collectively, allowing for they’d been on our flight coming over, the wives and girlfriends, and we flew again individually. Missed the parade, I watched it on Sky Sports activities.’Our flight was late coming in. The lads actually landed at Liverpool Airport, obtained ferried to the buses after which simply began the parade. I simply keep in mind considering ‘what a s***present’.’



Read more on dailymail