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BY DHEERAJ RAVI

In print | Published April 17, 2008

The success of football clubs in today’s constantly changing world depends on many factors apart from the quality of their players. The communication between different levels of management is essential as even the slightest slip-up by any party could jeopardize the confidence and trust between sides.

The manager needs to be given the utmost support to create harmony and motivation within the squad. The club’s boardroom needs to be completely transparent in its dealings with external factions as well as any concerns/suggestions they have to improve the club.

But the acquisition of players that would strengthen the club is a matter that needs to be kept confidential as transgressing this only serves to create bitterness with other “club mates.” I guess part of what I’m referring to is the way Liverpool’s owners have treated their brilliant manager, Rafael Benitez.

In November, Hicks and Gillett, Liverpool’s co-owners, had quite a spat with Benitez, as they reasoned that they had invested a lot into the club as well as for summer purchases but their position in the league was quite dismal.

I guess back then one could say the co-owners have a point. Liverpool had gotten a measly one point from a possible nine in three Champions League games and were nowhere near being considered title contenders.

So what did football-ignorant owners do? They contacted Jurgen Klinsmann who was residing in California after a brilliant run in the previous World Cup. The media had virtually unanimously reported that Klinsmann would be Benitez’s successor very shortly. This naturally created a significant amount of tension throughout the club.

But then Benitez, in these last months, has built the foundations for a very successful team. A core group mixed with youth and experience along with a good rotation policy has been one of the reasons for Liverpool’s late season emergence (look at Manchester Utd. and Chelsea as opposed to Arsenal). Benitez has lead Liverpool to 4th place in the Premier League (pretty much) and another semi-final encounter with Chelsea in the CL.

But we are hearing stories again about how over the weekend, Hicks and Gillett held clandestine meetings with Klinsmann, except this time it was about possible summer targets. Rick Parry, Liverpool’s chief executive and Benitez’s ‘trusted’ ally in the club, was also at the meeting, all without Benitez knowing.

STOP! I CAN’T TAKE IT! This is straight up bullshit. Imagine how Benitez must be feeling. He has done nothing but toil for this club ever since his arrival a few years ago. Since then, he has won the Champions League, European Super Cup, FA Cup, FA Community Shield, has consistently taken Liverpool to the highest stages of Europe’s premier competition and he has instilled confidence and trust within his diverse squad. This is the same man who can’t go to sleep if he hasn’t perfected his tactics. This is also a father who doesn’t let his own son beat him at video games (I guess that’s pretty pathetic … but still … dedication and commitment to his work, right? … haha)!

His confidence must be so undermined after Parry, his chief ally and confidant within the club, held back information from him. In fact, he is now seriously considering his future with Liverpool and his real value to the club.

Thankfully, Liverpool’s off-field affairs haven’t affected their on-field performance and let’s hope it stays that way because Benitez deserves to be where he is, considering he is the most hard-working manager in football today.

Instances like these are very avoidable. The media obviously doesn’t help with its harmful speculation about managers and players’ transfers. But the only thing that is required is complete transparency between different levels of the club. The individuals should realize that they are all working for the same goal and cooperation is essential.

Dheeraj is a junior. He can be reached at dravi1@swarthmore.edu.

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