Rafael Benitez says that Steven Gerrard is wrong over the midfielder’s claims that they the pair never had a personal relationship when they worked together at Liverpool.
Gerrard made the comments in his new autobiography, which has been serialised in the Daily Mail, and said there was a “frostiness” between him and Benítez, and that he didn’t “think Rafa liked me as a person” as there was “no bond between us”.
But Benítez, now manager of Real Madrid, has told Spanish TV that Gerrard’s remarks are wide of the mark, and suggested that they were made in order to sell more copies of his book.
“I have read the quotes and I believe he is wrong,” Benítez said. “Out of the respect that I have for Stevie and for the value and appreciation I have for him, and for Liverpool and the supporters, I think it’s best to just let it pass. He has brought out a book and now I’m the Real Madrid manager, that sells.”
Gerrard enjoyed the most successful period of his playing career under Benítez, and was instrumental in helping Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006, but said that the Spaniard is the only manager he worked with at Anfield that he could not just pick up the phone to.
The 35-year-old also said that before he had even met Benítez, the manager had asked his mother “a very blunt question: ‘Does Steven like money?’ Apart from a standard ‘hello ... good to meet you’ introduction, those were the first words Rafa said to my mum. I thought: ‘What kind of question is that?’
“On a basic human level I prefer a likeable manager, such as Gérard Houllier or Brendan Rodgers, but in terms of football I really don’t mind working with a colder man,” Gerrard also said. “An emotionless and distant relationship with the likes of Rafa Benítez and Fabio Capello can sometimes produce more success.”
