Liverpool have managed to win only three matches this year and two of them came in their last two league outings against Sean Dyche’s new-look Everton and Newcastle United.
The Reds’ next challenge is against Real Madrid at Anfield in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday. Jürgen Klopp’s side last faced Los Blancos in the final of the same competition last season, which they lost in Paris.
Ahead of the clash between the two sides, Marca spoke to Rafael Benitez, who managed both Liverpool and Real Madrid in the past. He was at the Merseyside club between 2004 and 2010, winning multiple trophies, including the Champions League in 2005.
Everton remains the manager’s last job and he hasn’t had a position since leaving Goodison Park last year.
When asked which club he will support tomorrow, the Spaniard talked about his exit from Anfield.
“Then, my adventure at Liverpool lasted five and a half years, from joy to joy, until the Americans arrived and the last year, we had no money. But I have great memories, my family lives here, many of my friends are from Liverpool… Logically, I would like to see them win, but I don’t like to see Madrid lose,” he said.
Marca also asked the ex-Liverpool manager whether he will return to Anfield. Responding to that, Benitez explained, “I think that Jürgen Klopp is going to continue because he is doing well and they have already said that they are going to support him.
“For this reason, I don’t think I have much room to take Liverpool. Klopp is doing well and has support.”
Klopp has been at Liverpool since 2015 and Benitez was asked whether the German will suffer from the ‘wear and tear’ of staying for ‘so many years’ at the same club.
“The players, if they always hear the same message and do the same training sessions, they get tired. The solution is to vary and update, changing certain players from time to time,” he explained.
