Stoke City striker Peter Crouch has opened up on life under Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez during his spell with Liverpool.
The 6ft 7in [Transfermarkt] forward managed to net 42 goals over three seasons with the Reds after signing from Southampton in 2005, quickly establishing himself as a firm fan favourite in the process.
However, the attacking colossus has revealed that not everything was bright under the current Magpies boss, admitting that Benitez had the tendency to criticise everything he did, rather than find things to praise him about, but ultimately said he was a brilliant boss and raved over his spell at Newcastle.
“He was very stand-offish, he never gave you praise and when you were doing well he would always pick on something you did wrong,” he told the Weekend Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT.
“He was fantastic and he gave me my chance at one of the best clubs in the world. I‘ve got loads to thank him for and I actually think he’s obviously a very, very good manager, as he’s proving again now.”
OPINION
This is a very fascinating insight in to the management of Rafa Benitez, and it is surprising to see Crouch describes him as stand-offish. At Newcastle, he does not portray this attribute in the slightest, and the players seem to be fully behind him and his tactical decisions. However, managing Liverpool is obviously a different kettle of fish, especially at the time when they were at their most successful. Benitez obviously wanted to get the best out of his players at the time, which could possibly justify why he was so stand offish with the former England international. Nevertheless, Crouch is still full of praise for the Spaniard, describing him as a “very, very good manager”, and that he is continuing to prove that he still is for Newcastle. United have not had the best of times recently and he has had to do a lot to show fans that he is still up to the job of managing the squad. At the moment, Newcastle could not have anyone better in the hotseat – and they should consider themselves lucky that they have a manager of such vast experience.
